The World Academy of Arts, Literature and Media (WAALM) recently announced that Israeli singer, Rita, is one of this year’s winners of the WAALM–Persian Golden Lioness Awards. The Iranian-born songstress won the award in the pop music category for her new album, My Joys, in which she sings in Persian.

My Joys climbed up the Israeli charts and also created a lot of interest worldwide. Reports in the international media said the album was even a hot commodity in Iran’s black market.

“I truly believe that music can connect between people and bridge the walls between us,” she said in her acceptance video.

Rita is currently on a six-city North American tour.

WAALM is a non-profit organization based in the UK that “supports, develops and promotes dramatic and fine arts, creative writing, poetry, and literature as well as professional journalism and media productions.”

Israeli singer Idan Raichel is a past winner.