It is not music to their ears

By Our Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 1. Music is almost dead in Afghanistan today. Not just the Bamiyan Buddhas but even the rich and varied musical traditions are falling a victim to Talibanisation. In fact, they have been under threat for the last twenty-three years, says Dr. Jhon Bailey, who is part of Freemuse (Freedom of musical expression), an independent international membership organisation advocating freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide.

Under the Taliban rule, the people are subjected to almost total music censorship and the only musical activity permitted is the singing of certain types of religious songs and Taliban ``chants''- panegyrics to Taliban principles and commemorations of those who have died on the battlefield. In the provincial city of Herat, which the author visited for seven weeks in 1994, professional musicians had to apply for a licence, which specified what they could perform - songs in praise of the mujahideen and songs with texts drawn from the mystical Sufi poetry of the region. This cut out love songs and music meant for dancing. The licences also stipulated that musicians must play without amplification.

Male musicians at private parties could perform indoors but Herat's women professionals were forbidden from performing. Even with respect to male musicians, often the agents of the Office for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, religious police, arrived to break up the party and confiscate the instruments, which were usually returned a few days later after a fine or bribe was paid.

There was very little music on local radio or television. Broadcasting time was severely curtailed to about two hours per day. If a song was telecast, one saw only a flower vase and not the performers on screen.

When the Taliban took control of Kabul in 1996, a number of edicts were published against music. One such edict read ``to prevent music... In shops, hotels, vehicles and rickshaws, cassettes and music are prohibited... If any music cassette is found in a shop, the shopkeeper should be imprisoned and the shop locked. If five people guarantee, the shop should be opened, the criminal released later. If cassette is found in the vehicle, the vehicle (will be seized) and the driver imprisoned.''

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