Skip to main content

TALIBAN PLACES BAN ON PLAYING MUSIC IN THE PUBLIC

Do not let our voices be silenced’: the desperate situation facing Afghan musicians


Taliban officials have announced a ban on playing music in public, and events have gone from bad to worse

Centuries of tradition: Afghan women rehearse in Kabul in 2017

An eerie silence has fallen on Afghanistan. This country, which nurtured some of the greatest musicians of Central Asia of the last half-century, is now officially a country without music. Though there is much confusion about what the new reign of the Taliban will bring, one thing at least is certain: public music-making is banned. This is in line with their very hard-line declaration that music is forbidden in Islam ⁠– which is wrong, because the Koran makes no reference to it. But we know the Taliban has no respect for learning, so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by this.

The musicians who once earned a living from their art are now in fear of their lives, and have gone into hiding. At least one folk singer has already been murdered in a remote province. Last-ditch attempts to airlift the players of the Afghan National Orchestra to safety failed; the aircraft was ready and waiting, but the musicians could not reach it. Members of the all-female orchestra Zohra are so fearful of reprisals they have broken their own instruments and burned all their music.

Life for them and other musicians has become a nightmare. Samira, a popular singer of folk songs, who like so many of the younger generation of musicians became known through “Afghan Star”, the Afghan equivalent of X Factor, doesn’t dare go out. “I just have no words to express how bad I feel,” she tells me during our phone conversation, a risky thing to do now in Afghanistan when one never knows who is listening. 

“I do not feel safe, so I have to change my home every few days staying with different friends. According to the Taliban I’m a criminal, because music is forbidden, especially if you’re a woman. I’m scared because there are so many spies in society, and I’m afraid somebody will reveal my location. Life is very cheap here, people will betray you for 1000 Afghanis [around £9]. So I can’t trust anyone. And also I worry about people I’m staying with. If something happened to them I could not forgive myself, and this is why I move on every few days.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Countries Accepting Nigerians Seeking Second Citizenship

  Countries Accepting Nigerians Seeking Second Citizenship Nigerians are able to access the following citizenship and immigration programs: The Caribbean Second Citizenship Programs, Caribbean nations like St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and Grenada offer second citizenship through their respective Citizenship-by-Investment programs. A holder of one of these passports may travel visa free to about 135 countries, including all European Union countries, the UK, Russia, Turkey, Singapore and Hong Kong. Holding a citizenship from one of these respected countries may also make it easier to obtain residency status or study in other countries, and allows political security and makes it easier to open bank accounts in foreign jurisdictions. To qualify, an applicant needs to be of good reputation and make a government donation of at least $100,000 USD after approval of their citizenship application.  Approval of a Citizenship-by-Investment application normally takes about 3 months, a...

EXCLUSIVE BREAST MILK IS THE BEST ONDO FIRST LADY TELLS NURSING MOTHERS AT BREASTFEEDING WEEK CELEBRATION

    Government Stresses Importance of Breast milk for Children as  Ondo State Celebrates Commencement of World Breastfeeding  Week   . ....525 nursing mothers breastfeed children. Ondo State on Friday joined the rest of Nigeria and the International Community in the celebration of 2024 World Breastfeeding Week. In a message to the event, held at the International Event Centre,  The Dome, in Akure, the First Lady, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa emphasized the critical importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and maintaining exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. The wife of the Governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Lola Fagbemi, reiterated that workplaces in the state are being adapted to support nursing mothers, highlighting the state's commitment to providing conducive environments for breastfeeding. She noted that Ondo State places significant priority on maternity leave for nursing ...

INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTRY CELEBRATES PASTOR BABALOLA FOR TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP

Ministry Celebrates Pastor Babalola for Transformative Leadership  The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has honored Pastor Joseph Ayoade Babalola, the immediate past Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing, for his exceptional leadership, character, and contributions during his tenure. The event, held at the Ministry’s headquarters, was attended by top government officials and staff, who described Pastor Babalola as a visionary leader, a mentor, and a team player who exemplified humility and a strong work ethic. Speaking at the ceremony, the Administrative Secretary of the Ministry, Engineer Akinluyi Omotola, emphasized the need to celebrate Babalola’s legacy, which, according to him, left an indelible mark on the Ministry. “Pastor Babalola brought a new dimension to leadership during his short but impactful tenure. He fostered unity, love, and inclusion, ensuring that no officer was sidelined or marginalized. His humility, openness, and respect fo...