Young Afghan singers highlight importance of music for their country’s future

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19 Aug 2013

Young Afghan singers highlight importance of music for their country’s future

BAMYAN - A music concert organized last week in Afghanistan’s central Bamyan province to mark International Youth Day (12 August) drew an audience of thousands from all over the country.

In more than a dozen performances at the concert – organized by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) with support from national and local authorities, including the province’s Governor Habiba Sarabi – leading Afghan musicians and artists gave performances centred on a message of cultural unity and national solidarity.

In the following interviews, some of the performers speak about their involvement in the concert and the role that music can play in Afghanistan.

Masoud Hassanzada, singer for the rock band ‘Morcha’

UNAMA: How long have you been singing?

Mr. Hassanzada: Morcha (English transl. ‘Ants’) began performing in Herat in 2005 and then moved to Kabul in 2008. Over the years we have played about 40 concerts throughout Afghanistan. Our songs try to highlight social and political problems.

UNAMA: Do you think that the music from your region speaks to all Afghans?

Mr. Hassanzada: We perform rock music is a new way and it does not have a long history in Afghanistan, but people understand our messages. Youth like our style very much. The poetry we use is about the daily life of Afghans, social issues and politics, and I think all Afghans understand what we are singing about.

UNAMA: What role can arts and culture play in Afghanistan?

Mr. Hassanzada: I think no political process can be successful without cultural support. The problem in Afghanistan is that arts and culture are not supported and there is little development work done to promote arts and culture in Afghanistan, if you compare that sector with other areas that have received a lot of money. Culture has several impacts. It preserves and promotes our traditions. Especially in a country like Afghanistan, where people have seen fighting and blood, music is the only cure for their sorrows. Through music we can highlight important issues in an attractive way.

UNAMA: What message do you have for Afghan youth?

Mr. Hassanzada: I would tell youth that maybe we are living in a country with many problems but this is our land, our home and we should work hard to build it. We have to build it ourselves. We can no longer wait for others to come and build our country.

Farzana Nawabi, an 11-year-old singer

UNAMA: When did you first sing?

Ms. Farzana: I sang my first song professionally this year in March, but I started practicing when I was seven years old. I have performed in four big concerts so far.

UNAMA: What do you say to children through your songs?

Ms. Farzana: I keep trying to show the world that children in Afghanistan also have talent and we can build our country through music.

UNAMA: Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Ms. Farzana: I think about a very beautiful Afghanistan in the future, a country where everyone can grow, where there is no fighting. I dream about gathering children around me to sing together and build our country through music.

UNAMA: What is your message to the children of Afghanistan?

Ms. Farzana: I tell my friends to follow their dreams. I tell them that people may try to stop them, people may discourage them, but they should only listen to their parents and work hard for their dreams.

Hessi Sherzad, band member of the rap group ‘Shah’

UNAMA: How long have you been singing?

Mr. Sherzad: We started our activities from 2005. We were the first rap/pop music group in Afghanistan.

UNAMA: Why is this kind of concert important?

Mr. Sherzad: This type of concert is very important because we entertain people and give them special messages. At the International Youth Day concert we tried to encourage Afghan youth to pursue education and work hard and we asked them to work for peace and solidarity in Afghanistan.

UNAMA: Do you think that the music from your region speaks to all Afghans?

Mr. Sherzad: Yes, the way we perform rap is like speaking with someone, we spoke about many issues in our performances, mostly about the issues that every Afghan wants to hear about.

UNAMA: What role can arts and culture play in Afghanistan?

Mr. Sherzad: I think all Afghans should work for a better future for Afghanistan. Music groups are important because we try to raise public awareness about social issues through entertainment.

UNAMA: Why should Afghan youth be optimistic about the future?

Mr. Sherzad: Youth should be hopeful for a better future and should work hard to achieve that. In our last performance, we spoke more about the future. We asked the youth to think and work for their future and not to think about the past. We should put dust on our dark past and think about the bright future ahead of us.

UNAMA: What message do you have for Afghan youth?

Mr. Sherzad: My message to the youth of Afghanistan is to work hard to get a good education, promote the arts and culture of Afghanistan, and to work to bring change for a better future for Afghanistan.

Related links:

- International Youth Day concert in Bamyan celebrates Afghan cultural diversity, national unity

- Click here to view a Facebook photo story 'UN in Afghanistan marks International Youth Day'