It is impossible to be a musician in Afghanistan. When the Taliban came into power the first time back in the 90s, all music except that of an extremely religious nature was banned. No performances, no musical instruments, nothing on the radio, no CDs or tapes. When they were kicked out, one of the first things that reappeared in the streets was music.
But then the Taliban moved in again in the 2021 and wiped out all music a second time. Many Afghan musicians fled across the border to Pakistan, a place that’s been a haven for Afghani musicians since the 1980s.
The city of Peshawar is home to the biggest population of ex-pat musicians, resulting in an industry featuring everything from record stores to recording studios to talent agencies. But the Taliban keep pressuring for Pakistan to send them back, meaning that this refuge for Afghan music is in big trouble.
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