In Afghanistan, musicians defy music ban to keep traditions alive

Kabul, Afghanistan (AP) — In a nation where music once filled the streets, the Taliban's ban has forced musicians to defy the law in order to keep their traditions alive. For decades, the war-afflicted capital's music district echoed with the sounds of cafes, restaurants, and homes. However, since 2022, playing or listening to music has been strictly prohibited by the Taliban, with the morality police enforcing the ban. Many musicians fled the country, but those who remained have faced significant hardships.

Despite the ban, some musicians still manage to play in secret, risking arrest for preserving their cultural heritage. A musician in a hidden home plays traditional instruments like rubabs, a plucked lute-like instrument. He vows to continue playing, even if only in secret, to ensure Afghanistan's rich musical traditions aren't silenced.

Similarly, a singer echoes these sentiments, stating that while music can't be performed openly, it remains in their hearts. Both musicians, speaking anonymously for fear of arrest, express their deep emotional connection to music, which once gave them fame and livelihood.

The rubab player, a former school teacher and instrument shop owner, lost his business and income overnight. His father, a musician, also died recently, a loss he attributes partly to the ban. Meanwhile, the singer spent two years unemployed before starting a small business. The ban has forced many musicians into poverty, yet their passion for music continues to drive them to defy the Taliban's ruling.