Welcome to Farja.me, the official website of Mahmud Farjami.
Mahmud Farjami is an Iranian journalist, writer, comedian, and humor scholar, with a primary focus on stand-up comedy socio-political satire, and religious humor. Currently residing in Oslo, he has served as a guest Associate Professor at the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at OsloMet University (2020-2022) and Kristiana College University (2019-2020).
Throughout his career, Mahmud has published 17 books, including seven translations. Among his notable works is “Iranian Political Satirists” (Amsterdam, 2017), a rare academic contribution to the field available in English. You can find most of his books on his Mahamud Farjami Amazon Author Page.
For nearly two decades, Mahmud has contributed hundreds of humorous essays, primarily in the form of political satire, to Persian print and online media. Unfortunately, due to increasing pressure, he was forced to leave Iran in 2010 and live in self-exile. Since then, he has resided in Malaysia, Turkey, Belgium, and currently Norway for varying periods. He is a member of the International Federation of Journalists and one of the co-founders of the International Society for Persian Humor.
In recognition of his scholarly work, Mahmud received the GSA award at the annual conference of the International Society for Humor Studies in 2012, held in Krakow, for his study on political satire as an indicator of freedom of speech. Since then, he has actively participated in numerous conferences and academic events, including being a keynote speaker at the Australian humor studies curriculum in Newcastle in 2013.
Mahmud is also a performer. He is recognized of being the first Iranian to perform stand-up comedy within Iran itself, with a groundbreaking show in Tehran (December 17, 2009). His performances typically take the form of one-man shows, and he has embarked on several global tours to present his stand-up comedy concerts. Additionally, in 2018, he hosted a full show on BBC Persian, which aired on the first day of Nowruz. On this website, you can find links, descriptions, photos, and videos of his works, as well as a few of his books available for free download, notably the bestseller “بیشعوری” (Bishouri). Furthermore, the complete archive of his Persian-language weblog, “باران در دهان نیمهباز” (Rain in the Half-Open Mouth), dating back to 2003, is accessible here.
In 2019, Mahmud Farjami undertook the groundbreaking task of designing the first-ever academic course on stand-up comedy for the Department of Art at Kristiana College. He developed a novel syllabus for the course, which was structured as a 7.5-unit program named Stand-up Comedy in Theory and Practice . The course was taught with great success, and the students had the opportunity to explore the intricacies of stand-up comedy as an art form.
Tragically, shortly after the completion of the course, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a widespread lockdown, disrupting educational activities worldwide. Despite the unfortunate timing, Mahmud’s stand-up comedy course had already achieved its objective and provided students with valuable insights into the craft of comedic performance.
“Shabcheraghun,” which has gained popularity on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Castbox, being followed by more than one hundred thousand. He is also excited to announce the upcoming release of his new book, “Humor in&on Islam,” a project he has dedicated more than three years to researching and writing.
Mahmud Farjami’s expertise as a socio-political activist and humor scholar has garnered him invitations to appear on numerous TV and radio programs. He has made appearances on both Persian and English media platforms, including prominent outlets such as CBS, VOA (Voice of America), and BBC Persian.
His interviews and discussions on these programs have allowed him to share his insights on various socio-political issues and offer his scholarly perspective on humor and satire. Through these media appearances, Mahmud has engaged with a wider audience, fostering meaningful conversations, and contributing to the discourse surrounding social and political matters.
To stay updated on Mahmud Farjami’s work, you can just google the name, and find him on Facebook and Instagram, Wikipedia, and other sources.