Musical Heritage                    by Melinda Smith                   

During the time of the ban, many Afghan musicians were persecuted and some fled to Pakistan, where they are now helping pass on their heritage knowledge to others.

NATURAL SOUND - MUSIC

NARRATOR
The music is haunting and full of national pride.

NATURAL SOUND- MUSIC

NARRATOR
It's an old patriotic song that goes, "This is my beautiful country! This is Afghanistan… This is my beloved country of Afghanistan." The musician playing this song is one of a group of Afghan artists with a mission: helping to preserve music that might be lost forever unless recordings are made now. Some of the musicians are older, now living in refugee camps in Pakistan.

Using instruments whose origins are as ancient as the music played on them, the men perform songs passed down by their fathers and grandfathers. Before they can pass the music on to a younger generation, they first need help in writing down the music. Sidiq Qeyam is doing just that. He's written a book on Afghan music in the Dari language, and is now director of music at the Irfan cultural center in Peshawar, Pakistan

SIDIQ QEYAM
"Every one of our musicians should be able to read the notes and know about the history of music."

NARRATOR
At least one compact disc has been made at The Center in Peshawar. The goal is to produce at least five more CDs, filled with songs from a variety of afghan regions.

One of the musicians involved in the project is Gul Zaman, a well-known Pashto folk singer.

GUL ZAMAN (TRANSLATION)
"It has a history and importance for the future generations. This is folklore, people's music. The music that we have now might also become folk for the future generations, because the life of the human being is a continuity that goes on."

NARRATOR
Sidiq Qyam says Afghan music is oriental, with Indian and Greek influences. Like other music around the world, many Afghan songs talk of romantic love. But Gul Zaman says they also talk of the passion for one's homeland and the devastation of war.

GUL ZAMAN (TRANSLATION)
"Other artists and we singers tried very hard and sang many songs asking for an end to the war. We sang poems that say it is enough, no more war. We are devastated. But no one listens. We are sad."

NARRATOR
But someone did listen. When the Taleban was forced out of Kabul, music was heard once more in the streets. And these musicians in Peshawar can go home to audiences waiting to hear them.

Melinda Smith, VOA-TV, Washington.

For more information see:
U.S. Funding Effort to Preserve Afghan Music (Department of State) - http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/islam/a011102a.htm
Afghan Hits - http://www.afghanhits.com/music/
Afghan Info.com/Entertainment - http://www.afghan-info.com/Entertainment/Artmusic.htm