Censorship In Afghanistan

“A human society deprived of music is likely to become to some extent dehumanised, lacking the personal emotional expression that comes from composing, performing and listening to music, and missing the joining of people in a common experience which makes them feel closer together” (Baily 44). Music is extremely powerful. There is nothing else on the planet that can build nations, then tear them apart. Life without music means the loss of individuality, tradition, culture, but most importantly freedom of expression. Musicians are a force to be reckoned with because they can influence thousands in just a few minutes. When a nation loses music, musicians hold the key to rebuilding what was lost.
The most notorious case of musical censorship
started in Afghanistan when the Taliban gained control. Before music was censored in Afghanistan, the daily lives of the Afghan people were filled with forms of musical expression. According to Baily, Afghanistan had a “rich musical life” where music was part of everything from births to marriages (44). Funerals were the only aspect of Afghan life that didn’t have music. The radio played a key aspect in how the music was transmitted to the people of Afghanistan. When the Afghan people weren’t attending a ceremony or celebration they could hear music in town from the radio. The way music is transmitted today creates a wave for musical expression to be transmitted globally. Even in the past century with the invention of the radio, music has grown immensely. According to the textbook, “the way in which music is taught and learned constitutes one of the most important domains of music transmission” (Bakan 27). Specifically in Afghanistan, music is transmitted orally through musicians. Therefore musicians are a key role in music in general because without musicians there would be no way of recreating the culture that was lost. Take for example the documentary Afghan Star, which takes place after the Taliban lost control of Afghanistan. In the documentary Afghanistan is completely deprived of a cultural music identity and when music is brought back it is westernized. The music before the Taliban was culturally based and when musicians couldn’t play music anymore their cultural identity was lost for some time. In Afghanistan the word music is entirely different than the westernized version of music.
Take for example the Koran, in which to a western ear sounds like a song. However, the recitation of Koran according to Afghanistan isn’t music. In Afghanistan “the concept of music is closely linked with musical instruments….Unaccompanied singing in itself is not labelled as “music”(Baily 21). There cultural representation of music varies from the westernized interpretation of music, however music is still an important aspect of their lives that was lost. While they still recited the Koran under Taliban rule, there was no musical expression for Afghan people because to them music was something completely different. There were many problems when Afghanistan lost music, especially when looking at how important the radio was in creating an Afghan identity. “...As long as the ban on music continues Afghans will be denied a very important force for bringing about reconciliation, both inside and outside the country,” creating only more problems for the future (Baily 45). While this may seem like an enormous problem, it can be fixed without much difficulty. Music cannot be censored anywhere, otherwise cultures will be lost in the process. In places such as Afghanistan where traditionals are spread orally the only way to bring back music is bring back
musicians. Music is an important part of life, however during times of war and terror it can be the only thing keeping people together. Violence is everywhere and the best way to combat that is through music. “Music provides a range of therapeutic possibilities for those who have suffered the traumas of warfare, the direct exposure to military force, the loss of family members, the dislocation, the uncertainty, the depression, the stress which occurs with prolonged experience of brutality” and so much more (Baily 45). Music bring people together when the world is tearing them apart. In areas like Afghanistan musicians have nowhere to go because of the censorship of music. Musicians are forced to leave or find new jobs to support themselves. People need music, especially in times of violence to help them get through the day. Music bring light into a dark tunnel. Musicians are the only way to see that light, without them there is only a dark tunnel. Everyday nations are separated by violence and war. In the case of Afghanistan, war and violence also means a loss of music and culture. The key to rebuilding a culture after a devastating event or events is through music. Musical expression is a way for cultures to be unique, yet at the same time connect with others. Musicians don’t just play music, they transmit it and teach it so that the future will always have music in it. Without musicians there is no music and without music there is nothing.