Afghanistan Musicology

  File:Concert with Ahmad Zahir, Ustad Nangyalai and Ustad Ismael Azamy.jpg - Wikimedia Commons Musical Interactions between Afghanistan and Tajikistan: The Role of Music in Sustaining Cross-Border Cultural Ties Author: Eslamuddin Firoz, Former Professor, Department of Music, Faculty of Fine Arts, Kabul University   ORCID: 0009-0004-0024-1223 Abstract Despite differences in their contemporary political structures and social developments, Afghanistan and Tajikistan share a common civilizational, linguistic, and cultural sphere whose roots date back to periods preceding the formation of their present political borders. Linguistic, historical, literary, religious, ritual, and artistic commonalities have provided a lasting basis for communication between the peoples of the two countries. Among the various elements of this shared heritage, music occupies a particularly significant position, as it has been able to sustain emotional and cultural communication between the two societi...

  The Small Ensemble of the Department of Music During a Performance (Photo from the author’s album) Women’s Participation in Afghan Music, 2001–2021: Institutional Development, Social Change, and Cultural Challenges Author: Eslamuddin Firoz, Former Professor, Department of Music, Faculty of Fine Arts, Kabul University   ORCID: 0009-0004-0024-1223 Abstract Following the fall of the first Taliban regime in 2001, Afghanistan entered a new phase of political, social, and cultural transformation. One significant manifestation of this transformation was the revival of artistic activities and the gradual return of women to the field of music. Focusing on the period from 2001 to 2021, this study examines the role and position of women in the transformation of Afghan music and the factors that contributed to the expansion of their participation in this field. The findings indicate that the establishment of new political structures, the relative expansion of civic space, the de...