Songs for the Taliban

 

On July 15, 2021, as the flames of war spread across Afghanistan and investors transferred their wealth to regional countries to protect them from looting and destruction, Ariana Saeed, the renowned Afghan artist, opened her brand "Ariana" in downtown Kabul. She had invested eight million Afghanis into this business, confident it would achieve success within a few months.

 

Ariana Saeed had no prior experience in business, and this was her first venture into opening a women’s clothing production workshop and sales center under the Ariana brand. Just as she had excited many with her vibrant presence in the media and music scene, she brought hope and excitement to many, especially to women who could feel the Taliban’s looming threat.

 

On August 15, 2021, a month after opening the Ariana workshop and sales center, the Taliban entered the city where Ariana Saeed had been singing and dancing among men and women, speaking of the dreams of the "Afghan girl" in the face of lurking devils.

 

In recent years, Ariana Saeed became an inspirational figure and a symbol of change for many young girls and brave women in Afghanistan who refused to submit to oppressive traditions and pre-established rules. She was often accused of supporting girls who competed with boys in the musical program "Afghan Star," where she served as a judge for several seasons, encouraging young girls to participate.

facebook.com/aryanamusic

 

Now, with a large lock on the doors of Ariana's workshop and store in Kabul and with Afghan audiences deprived of hearing her songs on local radio and television, Ariana Saeed grieves for what she left behind in Kabul, most notably her dreams and hopes for the women and girls of Afghanistan, which the return of the Taliban to power shattered.

 

In an exclusive interview with Independent Persian, Ariana Saeed shared that months before the fall of Afghanistan’s former government, despite witnessing the growing war and sensing danger daily, she, being optimistic about the future, implemented her idea to create a brand that would produce clothing according to Afghan women’s tastes. She used handmade embroidery by Afghan women, combining modern fashion with elements of Afghanistan's culture and traditions.

 

About the closure of the Ariana production center and store, she said, "About 24 people, mostly women, worked in that center. Despite all the challenges, I was hopeful for the future and aimed to create job opportunities for women and boost local production by investing in clothing. But with what happened, our work stopped, and those who worked with us now struggle for a piece of bread."

 

Alongside establishing a brand, Ariana Saeed also founded and supported three football clubs for girls and boys. The Taliban's return to power turned everything in Afghanistan upside down, and the players in the clubs she founded dispersed, leaving no trace of them on the sports fields.

 

On the afternoon of Sunday, August 15, when the Taliban entered parts of Kabul, Ariana Saeed was in the city center, not imagining that the military equipment would collapse without resistance. Being one of the most wanted individuals by the Taliban, she quickly reached Kabul Airport, under U.S. control, the only safe place in the country. Ariana and her fiancé, Haseeb Saeed, were among the first to fly from Kabul to Doha on a massive U.S. military plane.

 

Reflecting on her rapid departure from Kabul, she said, "I never imagined the collapse would happen so quickly. We were hopeful for the future and our country, but our president abandoned us and fled. I left everything behind in Kabul, most importantly my heart and soul."

 

Songs for the Taliban

 

In early December 2021, while still shaken by the anxiety and horror of fleeing Kabul, Ariana Saeed released a new album of songs, completely different from her previous works. She titled this album "Da Taliban Pa Lara" (Pashto: For the Taliban). The album consists of 10 songs, all in Pashto, with lyrics drawn from classic and folk Pashto literature.

 

The content of the songs revolves around love encounters, the impatience of a young lover, the dreams of girls who secretly fall in love with boys, and young men entangled in societal norms who can’t express their love. When Ariana released the album, she said, "While the Taliban claim that music is forbidden, through this album, composed of timeless Pashto songs, I challenge them and invite them not to listen to it. I believe the Taliban have never been introduced to the beauty, magic, and enchanting impact of music, which is why they have always tried to eliminate music from society."

 

Ariana added, "If the Taliban listen to music and give themselves a chance to understand it, they will stop their inhumane treatment of music, which is one of life's greatest gifts."

 

Ariana believes that the younger generation of the Taliban, influenced by urban life and its symbols, will eventually come to terms with things like music, though the older generation of the Taliban remains unchanged in their 30-year-old beliefs. 

 

She is convinced that many young Taliban members couldn't resist her challenge not to listen to the album and have, in fact, heard it. Ariana remarked, "I’m sure many young Taliban members have this album on their phones and listen to it."

 

Nonetheless, she remains furious about the restrictions imposed on music, media, and artistic activities in Afghanistan. Ariana expressed her concern for her colleagues and friends who were involved with her in producing music and art in Afghanistan, struggling against the Taliban's strict rules. She stated, "Artists, singers, and musicians made their living through music production. When music is banned, and no one is allowed to work in the arts or cinema, how can the thousands of people whose only skill is in these fields survive?"

 

Ariana noted that all artists in Afghanistan are living in harsh conditions and total oppression. According to her, many have become destitute due to losing job opportunities and fear of Taliban reprisals, with no one to support them.

I interviewed Aryana Sayeed via Skype

 

"The People Are As Responsible as the Taliban for the Current Situation"

 

While Ariana is a beloved and inspiring figure for women, there are many men in Afghanistan who see her as a rebellious woman who does not respect Afghan cultural and religious traditions, encouraging women to fight against darkness, which many conservative Afghan men, including the Taliban, believe to be God's and the Quran's command.

 

Ariana is critical of this view, saying, "Just as much as the Taliban are responsible for the fear and oppression in Afghanistan, a large portion of the people are also to blame. The people of Afghanistan have become deeply radicalized and have ruined themselves in the name of religion."

 

She added, "A large part of Afghan society has interpreted a religion that should bring peace, mercy, kindness, and tranquility to people as one of violence, hatred, and misery."

 

Ariana believes that people’s focus on trivial matters rather than essential issues has prevented the development of human values and hindered the growth of civil movements. As an example, she cited the negative reactions to the clothes she wore during her concerts, saying, "When I performed the song 'Lady of Fire' in the European Parliament in support of Afghan women, thousands of men attacked me on social media, criticizing my outfit instead of advocating for the freedom of the protesting women imprisoned by the Taliban. My outfit caused no harm to anyone; it’s the oppression and whips of the Taliban that have made life difficult for people, and that’s what they should be reacting to."

 

Ariana stated that if Afghan men focused on advocating for women's freedom and human rights, which the Taliban have violated, instead of her clothes, they would surely see positive results. She added with regret that many Afghan men do not support their women and daughters and are, in a way, complicit with the Taliban in violating their basic rights.

 

Despite all this, Ariana Saeed has not lost her passion and enthusiasm for producing music, supporting Afghan women, and performing on global stages. As she prepares for an artistic tour in Europe, the U.S., Asia, and Australia, she emphasized that she remains steadfast in her stance to support Afghan women and will continue to raise her voice against the tyranny and oppression of the Taliban on every stage.