NEWS
EVENTS
Attention Afghanistan! Part 2: Paradise
Other | Wednesday 7th January 2015 | Izaradz
It seems like every day we are bombarded with new platforms, devices and mediums of communication. Every day we are forced to choose from dozens of voices both physical and metaphorical, with which we can communicate a single message. Here at Guestlist, music and verse play a key role in our world of communication, which is why the emerging musical scene and development of contemporary culture in Afghanistan immediately tingled our excitement.
In Part 1 of the Attention Afghanistan! series, I explained the dangers that women in Afghanistan face today. Despite an enormous amount of progress that has been taking place, many individuals still suffer great risks by doing, what we would consider, normal things.
We spoke to Kate Hughes, the project manager for Amnesty Afghanistan, we learned more about underground development of culture, despite the dangers of the lurking Taliban loyalists.
“There is a budding music scene in Afghanistan. Because music was completely outlawed under the Taliban, so there are some NGOs that are focused on music development. They see music as this key point in the freedom of expression that we need in a democratic and peaceful society.” – Kate Hughes
During the Taliban regime, any allusion to Western culture was forbidden, including musical expression and dance. Today’s attitudes are changing, with shows like Afghanistar (the Afghan version of X Factor) compulsively drawing families together around the TV every weekend. Nevertheless, the transformation towards acceptance and freedom of expression like we have here is far from complete. Many conservatives and Taliban loyalists will still do anything in their power to squash the revolution.
“It’s amazing how that’s taken off and the idea of getting music back because there is such a rich tradition of city music and city poetry in the country. The arts were so strong pre-Taliban and are is something that is coming back with amazing strength in the period of time post-Taliban.” – Kate Hughes
One musical protagonist is Paradise, one of the first Afghan female rappers, incorporating gender equality and women’s rights issues into her hard-hitting lyrics. Otherwise known as Paradise Soururi, the aspiring hip-hop star was living in Iran and Tajikistan, but has returned to her country of origin now that a platform of hope has emerged. This does not mean that it is any safer for her to pursue her chosen musical path. The Washington Post tells us that;
“In Herat , a city near the Iranian border, Soururi was attacked by five men one night when she was walking home with her boyfriend. Even in Kabul she is constantly harassed when she walks in the street or takes the bus.”
Paradise writes blogs and records videos telling people her story, as well as performing live on stage to a handful of fans that are able to attend them. All this however, must always take place in secure, closed-off places, indoors. Each act she performs is seen as one of defiance to many, and her actions are often provocative of violence and attack. Even the clothes she wears;
“What she described as a rapper outfit — pink stretch jeans, a hoodie and a baseball cap tilted sideways.” - Washington Post
In her way, she is fighting for her rights, risking her life in the process. Paradise is not the only female artist trying to bring women’s rights to the foreground and keeping musical culture alive, but she is certainly one that is continuing to propel her firey passion forward with a whole lot of entities pulling her back. Make sure to have a look at some of her videos on YouTube and keep up with her activity.
Iza Radwanska Zhang
