Afghan Music Background:

For many Afghans the history of Afghan music starts with the time the legend, Ahmad Zahir, started singing. Within a few short years, he not only captured the hearts and souls of Afghans, but also left a legacy, which is still charished and marveled by Afghans world wide. But historically speaking, music and broadcasting in Afghanistan (in its popular form) started with the inception of Radio Kabul , which re-opened in 1940. As Radio Afghanistan reached the entire country, popular music grew more important. In 1951, Parwin became the first Afghan woman to sing live in Radio. Although in a conservative Islamic nation, a female Afghan artist was considered a form of blashphemy by certain fundamentalist groups but following parwin's footsteps Farida Mahwash , with the help of her husband - who was then a taxi driver in Shari Now, managed changed everyone's views. She learnt afghan music in Kharabat district of Kabul under the tutelage of grand master's of Afghan ghazal singers such as Ustaad Sarhang, Ustaad Shaida etc. Soon Afghan female singers were widely accepted and admired in Afghanistan. Ustaad Mahwash's popularity soard in Afghanistan and eventually gained her the title of Ustad (Master), was after the major hit with "O bacheh" in 1977; she was "perhaps the most notable" of pop singers. Modern afghan music did not arise until the 1950s when radio became commonplace in the country. They used orchestras featuring both Afghan and Indian instruments, as well as European clarinets, guitars and violins. 1970's were the golden age of Afghanistan's Music Industry. Popular Afghan pop singers include Farhad Darya, Habib Qaderi , Jawid Sharif, Bashir Hamdard and many others.