Highlights
- A concert by a group of musicians in Sydney has raised funds for their counterparts in Afghanistan.
- Musicians in the country are struggling due to Taliban disapproval of music.
- Protesters say the restrictions have plunged a rich musical history and culture into a modern "Dark Age".
A concert in Sydney last month, presented by and supported by venue space "107" and the City of Sydney, included performances by Emal Orya and Omid Azzimi; Indranil Choudhury and Murtaza Damoon; and Lachlan Dale and Murtaza Damoon.
All proceeds were donated to the , a not-for-profit organisation which funnels aid directly to Afghan professional and master musicians who are destitute and unable to work under the Taliban.
Grave concerns are held for the welfare of musicians in Afghanistan since the Taliban crackdown, according to community advocate and lawyer, Arezo Safi, who also labelled the move a "Dark Age for Music" in the troubled country.
Ms Safi said had a dual purpose for her – to honour the music of Afghanistan as well as to express solidarity with the creative artists there.
Music has been banned in Afghanistan by the Taliban and this stance violates the United Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
“In August 2021, during the fall of Kabul, a folk singer was killed by the Taliban and numerous musicians who were caught on their way to or from a ‘gig’ have been beaten up in public with their instruments set on fire,” Ms Safi said.
She said it was crucial to understand that performing music was the main source of income for professional musicians.
“It involves building the craft, not only over the period of an individual’s life but also inter-generationally,” Ms Safi said.
“It requires practice and innovation that should be valued by society.
“The Taliban’s violation of cultural rights is not being adequately addressed dare I say worldwide, including its stance on music."
Mr Dale said he had become very concerned about the Taliban suppression of musicians in the country.
The fundraiser was well attended. Source: Abdullah Alikhil
“Musicians in Afghanistan are unable to play, unable to learn, unable to teach; they find it very difficult,” he said.
“I have been helping some musicians with refugee applications here in Australia; the things they have mentioned in the applications are shocking and concerning.”
He said the fundraising evening was a “small way in which we can raise some funds for musicians and make sure that the musicians who can't work can feed themselves and their families and live under the Taliban.
“It is part of an international campaign for Afghanistan’s musicians that’s put together by a number of academics and musicians in the United Kingdom and European Union."
Cash was being sent to musicians in Afghanistan for food and other necessities, he said.
Mr Dale said he had been very attracted by the sound of Afghan instrument, the Rubab, so had begun learning how to play it himself.
“Through that, I learned more about Afghan music,” he said.
Sydney-based, Afghan musician, Emal Orya, said many musicians back in Afghanistan were very worried for themselves and their families.
“They are fearful for their lives, cannot practice music, and don’t have any other income,” Mr Orya said.
“It is very tough for them; at the moment, they don’t know what to do, they have hopes of moving somewhere where they can practice music, but at the moment, they do not have any future back in Afghanistan."
Our job is to come together and make noise for the people that don’t have any voice back home.
An Indian musician who performed at the event said music freed the mind and gave both performers and listeners an “inner peace”
“Music is the expression of your heart and internal peace, it’s a basic need of any human being,” he said.
“If I was told that I couldn’t perform my music, I would get very depressed.
“Music is my heart and if it stops, I will die.”
