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WorldQuiet 7d · day 10

Afghan musicians defy Taliban music ban with secret performances

Five years after the Taliban banned all music except religious chanting, underground musicians continue playing in hidden spaces to preserve their cultural traditions.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 8d ago10 pieces8 likes & upvotes NewswiresRedditBlueskyMastodonHacker News

What to know

  • Afghanistan's Taliban government has banned all music except religious vocal chanting since 2022, enforced by morality police who confiscate instruments.
  • Many musicians fled the country; those remaining hide instruments or send them abroad to preserve them from destruction.
  • Some musicians continue playing in secret despite risks, viewing it as essential to preserving Afghan cultural heritage and family traditions across generations.
  • The ban has devastated Afghanistan's music economy and professional musicians, with Kabul's historic music district now selling groceries instead of instruments.

“The day I brought my musical instruments home and covered them with a tarp felt as if I had been buried alive beneath that very covering, as if I were dead. Music gave me life; it brought me fame and recognition. Without music, an artist is like a soulless corpse.”

Anonymous Afghan musician, Former music teacher and shop owner · Philadelphia Inquirer / Associated Press ↗

Taliban Ruling authority in AfghanistanSaif ul Islam Khyber Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice spokespersonAfghan musicians (anonymous) Underground performers and cultural practitioners

Afghan musicians defy Taliban music ban with secret performances
Mercury News

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Oct 30, 12 PM; 10 pieces over 10 days (5 articles · 5 posts) Oct 30, 12 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Oct 30, 3 AM — quietOct 30, 6 AM — quietOct 30, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Oct 30, 12 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Oct 30, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Oct 30, 6 PM — quietOct 30, 9 PM — quietOct 31, 12 AM — quietOct 31, 3 AM — quietOct 31, 6 AM — quietOct 31, 9 AM — quietOct 31, 12 PM — quietOct 31, 3 PM — quietOct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 9 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Nov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Nov 1, 5 AM — quietNov 1, 8 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Hacker News 1Nov 1, 2 PM — quietNov 1, 5 PM — quietNov 1, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 2 AM — quietNov 2, 5 AM — quietNov 2, 8 AM — quietNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 5 PM — quietNov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 5 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 5 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 5 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 5 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 5 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 5 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quiet 1
Oct 31Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6yesterdaynow · 1:11 PM ET
  1. 1

    AP reports on underground music resistance in Afghanistan

    Associated Press coverage documents musicians who continue playing in secret despite the ban, describing their determination to preserve Afghan musical traditions and the emotional cost of the music prohibition.

    “As long as I am alive, I will continue to play. Perhaps I will do so in secret, but I will not allow (the rubab) to be silent.”
    — Anonymous Afghan musician
    1. 5 outlets In Afghanistan, musicians defy music ban to keep traditions alive

      first by Orlando Sentinel, 9d ago · also Baltimore Sun, Mercury News, Arab News, Philadelphia Inquirer

    • researchbuzz@researchbuzz.masto.host

      # Afghanistan # music # CulturalHeritage 'Every so often, some pull out their instruments and play in secret. A knock at the door could mean danger. Still, they play.' https:// apnews.com/article/afghanistan -taliban-music-ban-1aa6e4e91bc532cec1ba4351efdeb1ba

      researchbuzz@researchbuzz.masto.hostMastodon7d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    2 posts in this stretch →
  2. background

    Taliban officially bans music nationwide — The Taliban officially bans playing or listening to music throughout Afghanistan, with an exception only for religious vocal chanting. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice enforces the ban through morality police.

  3. background

    Taliban seizes power in Afghanistan — The Taliban takes control of Afghanistan following their military offensive, beginning a period of significant social restrictions.

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