Afghan Music in Exile: Artists at Risk and Art in Danger
An extreme form of political censorship of music in Afghanistan not only threatens the life of musicians but also the very survival of Afghan musical traditions. Many artists have fled the country to seek refuge in Europe, North America, Iran and Pakistan. In Afghanistan, the sound of music has vanished and its transmission is severely interrupted.
In an impulse lecture, Marko Kölbl will discuss the ban on music in Afghanistan, its impact within the country, and introduce Afghan artists and their music practice in exile, offering perspectives from various parts of the world.
Moderated by Areeb Azhar, a follow-up discussion will then reflect on the situation of Afghan musicians in exile from an global perspective and assess urgent needs for Afghan artists and strategies in safeguarding Afghan musical practices outside the country.
About the Guest Speaker:
Dr. Marko Kölbl is Assistant Professor and chair of the Department of Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He holds an MA in classical piano and a PhD in ethnomusicology and is specialized in music and dance of minorities and migrant communities. His research covers a wide range of topics, from Croatian laments to gender and sexuality in traditional music up to his current Post-Doc project on music from Afghanistan and the refugee experience. He has done extensive fieldwork in Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, and Turkey. As a musician, Marko Kölbl is active in the field of vocal music of the Croatian minority in Burgenland as a solo performer and choir leader.
About the Moderator:
Arieb Azhar is an acclaimed singer, producer, cultural promoter and a pioneer of contemporary Sufi music of Pakistan. A regular speaker on the topic of culture and Sufi poetry of Pakistan, he has produced several documentary films on music and music heritage. He co-founded the Music Mela Festival, Islamabad, which he curated for three years, and is the founder and director of Art Langar (a festival that connects music and arts with the spirit of charity and community integration).
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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