THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

SSmith1226

The following is not a political discussion. It is reality. Given a different set of circumstances, or at the whim, so to speak, of a spin of the dice, we could be living under these or similarly severe circumstances. For example, due to circumstances similar to this, I, or my generational equivalent, probably would never have been born if my great grandparents had not made the choice to leave Eastern Europe and Russia and settle in the United States over 120 years ago.
Here is a news report, of a contemporary situation verified by searching international sources. The first thing that came to my mind was the title of the Don McLean song, “The Day The Music Died”.

From Classic FM:

Taliban executes folk singer after announcing a public music ban in Afghanistan

An Afghan musician has been shot dead in the Baghlan province, after Taliban officials announced a ban on playing music in public.

Fawad Andarabi, a well-known folk singer, was killed in the Afghanistan village of Andarab, north of Kabul, according to multiple reports. He was said to have been dragged from his village home before being shot dead by the Taliban.

Afghanistan’s former interior minister Masoud Andarabi tweeted: “Taliban’s brutality continues in Andarab. Today they brutally killed folkloric singer, Fawad Andarabi who simply was bringing joy to this valley and its people.”

United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Karima Bennoune, posted online: “As UN Special Rapporteur on cultural rights, with Unesco Goodwill Ambassador on artistic freedom, I express grave concern about reports of the terrible killing of singer Fawad Andarabi.

“We call on governments to demand the Taliban respect the human rights of artists. We reiterate our plea for governments to find safe, effective ways for artists & cultural workers who need to do so to get out of Afghanistan.”

The Taliban has banned playing music in public. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told the New York Times in a recent interview that music is “un-Islamic”.

“Music is forbidden in Islam, but we’re hoping that we can persuade people not to do such things, instead of pressuring them,” he said.

20 years ago, when they were last in Afghanistan, the Taliban only permitted religious singing. Other forms of music-making were banned.

Celebrating weddings with dancing and music was banned by the Taliban from 1996 to 2001.

In recent media appearances, Taliban spokesmen are trying to give the impression that the group had changed its ways since its first government of the late 1990s, with more moderate positions on matters of culture and women’s education.

However, around the time the US and NATO forces are leaving Kabul, people are voicing deep fear for the safety of artists and the Taliban’s treatment of cultural artefacts and traditions in the country.

Andarabi played the ghichak, a bowed lute, and sang traditional songs about his birthplace, his people and Afghanistan.

The full report can be found at:
https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/taliban-executes-singer-afghanistan-fawad-andarabi/

J. Jericho

The concept of using persuasion instead of pressure in a culture of power, aggression, fear, and submission is naive. In such a culture, superior power and dominance is respected and provokes cooperation, while pleas for civil behavior are considered weak and deserving of ridicule and derision. There are those who understand this and are capable of exercising strength, and there are others who either disbelieve the reality of it or have no clue.

Dr GO

I experienced this first hand (and still have it intact, THANK GOD) when I traveled to Saudi Arabi with my Pocket Trumpet. I had it confiscated 3x at airports I traveled through at the time (in 2014). Each time, it was returned to me by a superior agent after I had the chance to plea with them that I only intended to practice the horn in the privacy of my hotel room with a silent mute attachment (that I took out of the case and showed them). In each case, the horn was returned with the warning not to play in public.

I did play it once, during a celebration party of my visit, way out in the desert after I thought I had silently walked away from the host, where I played Caravan. As fate would have in, several host diplomates followed me out into the desert (unbeknownst by me) and heard me playing. I turned around to see applause. I returned from that party, hands intact.

SSmith1226

@j-jericho said in THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED:

The concept of using persuasion instead of pressure in a culture of power, aggression, fear, and submission is naive. In such a culture, superior power and dominance is respected and provokes cooperation, while pleas for civil behavior are considered weak and deserving of ridicule and derision. There are those who understand this and are capable of exercising strength, and there are others who either disbelieve the reality of it or have no clue.

If I lived there I would be persuaded immediately that music is not an option. I would also be persuaded to leave if possible. Of course the UN has politely asked the Taliban not to do that again.

@dr-go said in THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED:

I did play it once, during a celebration party of my visit, way out in the desert after I thought I had silently walked away from the host, where I played Caravan. As fate would have in, several host diplomates followed me out into the desert (unbeknownst by me) and heard me playing. I turned around to see applause. I returned from that party, hands intact.

It appears that you lucked out, and left Saudi Arabis with your hands, brain, and no whip marks. I would not suggest attending any events in Afganistan!

J. Jericho

@ssmith1226 Afghanistan does appear to have some harsh music critics!

SSmith1226

@j-jericho said in THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED:

@ssmith1226 Afghanistan does appear to have some harsh music critics!

One can only hope that no one there plays the Bagpipes or Banjo.