Afghanistan Music

Afghanistan Music

The Music of Afghanistan is somewhat similar to that of its neighboring countries. It has existed for a long time, but since the late 1970s the country has been involved in constant wars and people were less concerned about music. As such, music in Afghanistan has been suppressed and recording for outsiders minimal, despite a rich musical heritage.

During the 1990s, the post-Soviet and Taliban governments banned instrumental music and much public music-making. In spite of arrests and destruction of musical instruments, musicians have continued to play their trade into the present. The multi-ethnic city of Kabul has long been the regional cultural capital, but outsiders have tended to focus on the city of Herat, which is home to traditions more closely related to Iranian music than in the rest of the country. Lyrics throughout most of Afghanistan are typically in Dari (Persian) and Pashto.

POP HISTORY

Pop music emerged in Afghanistan during the 1950s, and became very popular until the late 1970s. What helped the emergence of pop music in Afghanistan were amateur singers from non-traditional music backgrounds who wanted to showcase their talents in the studio (Radio Kabul). These singers were from middle- to upper-class families and were more educated than singers from traditional music backgrounds.

These amateurs innovated in Afghan music and created a more modern approach to the traditional folklore and classical music of Afghans. Amateur singers included Akeem Mascall, Ahmad Zahir, Nashinas (Dr. Sadiq Fitrat) Ahmad Wali, Zahir Howaida, Rahim Mehryar, Mahwash, Haidar Salim, Kamal Dost, Ehsan Aman, Najim Nawabi, Salma Jahani, Sharif Ghazal, Hangama, Parasto, Naghma, Mangal, Farhad Darya, Sarban, and others. Ahmad Zahir was among Afghanistan's most famous singers; throughout the 60s and 70s he gained national and international recognition in countries like Iran and Tajikistan.

Pashto Singers
Abdullah Duran Abdullah Moqorai Abdul Rauf Kandaharai
Ahmad KhanAbdul Baqi Khayal(late) Aka Khel

Akbar Husain Almas Khalil Amin Ulfat

Amjad Khan Anwar Khyal Arbab Shan

Aryan Khan Ashraf Gulzar Ashraf Hussain Lagi

• Azim Khan
• Azmat Gul
• Azra Naaz
• Bahar Ali
• Bahram Jan
• Beltoon
• Bakhtiar Khattak
• Bakhtzamina
• Baryalai Samadi
• Chota Qismat Khan
• Damsaz Marwat
• Darwesh Kaker
• Dawlat Qarabaghai
• Farhad Darya
• Farzana
• Dr Fay Khan
• Fayaz khan Kheshgi
• Fazal Rabi, Toru Mardan [1934-2004]
• Fazaa Fayyaz
• Ghazala Javed
• Gul Hasrat
• Gul Zaman
• Gul Nazir Mangal
• Gula Jan
• Gulakey
• Gulnar Begum
• Gulrez Tabassum
• Gulzar Alam
• Hafiz and Davin Ali
• Hakim Jan Zazai
• Haroon Bacha
• Hayat Gardezai
• Hazrat Baz
• Hedayat Ullah
• Hekal
• Humma
• Humayun
• Humayun Hayrat
• Ibrahim Momand
• Imran Shah
• Inaam
• Janas Khan
• Jawid Sharif
• Juma Gul Khoshboi
• Kamal Gardezai
• Kandi Kuchi
• Keshwar Sultan
• Khalid kahn]
• Khalid Khan
• Khalid Malik
• Khaliq Aziz
• Khan Qarabaghai
• Khan Zaman
• Khanwali
• Khayal Muhammad
• Khayer Mohammad Khandan
• Kifyat Shah
• Latif Jan Babi
• Latif Nangarhari
• Layla
• Mahjabeen Qazalbash
• Mashal
• Mashooq Sultan
• Masood Akhtar
• Masood Kamal
• Kamal Mehsood
• Master Ali Haider
• Master Rahim Gul
• Mangal
• Mirawas
• Mir Gul Shah Surrani
• Mohammadullah katawazai
• Muhktiar
• Naghma
• Nashenas
• Nasir Khan
• Nasrullah
• Nazia Iqbal
• Nazir Mohammad
• Nek Badshah Zadran
• Niamatollah Orguni
• Niaz Wali
• Noor Muhammad Kuchi
• Noor Muhammad Katawazi
• Obaidullah Jan Kandarai
• Pir Mohammad
• Qadeem
• Qismat Khan Banizai
• Qamar Gula
• Rafiq Shinwari
• Rahamit Khorita
• Rahim Shah
• Rashid Khan
• Rauf Kandaharai
• Rasool Badshah
• Rehman Khan
• Rezwan Munawar
• Sabzali Khan
• Sadek Mukbal
• Sadiq Fitrat Nashnas
• Sahib Zada
• Sajad
• Sami
• Sangeen Afridi
• Sarbaz Kuchi
• Sardar Ali Takkar
• Sardar Yousafzai
• Sarfaraz Afridi
• Sediq Shubab
• Shaaz Khan
• Shabaz Khan
• Shabnam
• Shafi Muhammad
• Shafi Muhammad Quetta
• Shafiq Mureed
• Shah Wali
• Shahinshah Badshah
• Shakila Naz
• Shalo
• Shamal
• Syed Alam
• Tajali Khan
• Tahir Shubab
• Ulus yarr Khan
• Ustad Awalmir
• Ustad Ayub
• Wagma
• Waqar Tanoli
• Zafar Iqrar
• Zarin
• Zarsanga
• Zarshad
• Zarshad Ali
• Zarwali Afghan
• Zeek Afridi
• Zia Khattaka