Universitätsbibliothek
Weimar Open Access

Sabine Roselt, Sophie Huber, Josepha Kießling, Lolina Neumeier, Linus Bahr

• What is Afghan music and what is its contemporary state? This question seems important to ask, considering the conflictual recent past of the country that particularly affected cultural expressions such as music. In these four articles diverse perspectives on Afghan music are explored. From traditional music of the Afghan rubab and its masters up to popular music of the Afghan-German hiphopWhat is Afghan music and what is its contemporary state? This question seems important to ask, considering the conflictual recent past of the country that particularly affected cultural expressions such as music. In these four articles diverse perspectives on Afghan music are explored. From traditional music of the Afghan rubab and its masters up to popular music of the Afghan-German hiphop producer “Farhot”, various insights are given into phenomena yet barely covered in academic works. This collection provides glimpses into the variety of the music of Afghanistan and the Afghan diaspora and help to shape the Western views on the music of the country into more diverse perspectives. We move further away from the bias of the majority of media representations predominantly showing the conflictual sides of Afghanistan, at the same time avoiding a limiting and narrow view on Afghanistan with solely a musical tradition located in the past. These essays go beyond and outline that apart from a rich tradition, there are present forms of musical expression. We move from “Tradition to Television” and beyond, exploring views on the future of music connected to Afghanistan.…