Why Taliban is desperate to silence musicians and artists

Hardline Islamist leaders have imposed brutal restrictions on cultural expression and the Afghan people are suffering

- Ruchi Kumar

When the Taliban moved closer to Kabul in the early days of August 2021, a series of advertisements flooded the shopping pages on Afghan social media. Musicians were putting their instruments and equipment up for sale.

Many were being offered for a fraction of what they were worth. Yet, even in a country with an immense love for music, there were few buyers. "I knew from past experience what they would do with people like us [musicians], and our instruments. They have a dislike for our art and culture," a 49-year-old singer from Afghanistan's north who asked to be identified as Farhan, said.

Farhan was a sought-after musician in his town during festivals, weddings and social gatherings for his mesmerising renditions of folk songs played on a damboora, a traditional Afghan musical instrument. But when the insurgents marched closer to his city, he started receiving calls and social media messages from Taliban commanders accusing him of causing "moral corruption".

"I knew they would not spare me, so I had to say farewell to my instruments and leave the country." Some musicians tried to sell their instruments, he said, while others destroyed them rather than letting them fall into the hands of the Taliban. "I buried my instruments in the fields," said Farhan.

Foresight saved Farhan's life. Some of his colleagues, such as folk singer Fawad Andarabi, were less fortunate, murdered by the Taliban just weeks after the group seized power.