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Afghanistan’s Symphony (via Reuters)

By Omar Sobhani 

“Usually when I go to shoot for a story, we are faced with a bomb blast, a suicide attack, or some other type of violence here in Afghanistan. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when I visited Afghanistan’s National Institute of Music. Even though I have lived in Kabul for many years, I had no clue this academy even existed — it is the only of its kind in the whole country.

Foreigners and Afghans teach young Afghans how to play all sorts of instruments, as well as to sing. What struck me most is the opportunity given to women. There are not many opportunities for women in Afghanistan to play or sing music — during the Taliban era (from 1996-2001) music was outright banned and women were basically taken away from public life.

So, being at the school, and seeing young girls learn how to play music, actually gave me some hope about my country and made me think perhaps we can live in peace in the future. This is not the usual feeling I have after an assignment.” [Read here]

Photos :

Kabul, January 7, 2012. 

#1 : Female students play cellos at the Kabul Music Academy.

#2 : Students play sitars at the Kabul Music Academy.

#3 : Students practise together at the Kabul Music Academy.

#4 : A student learns to play the French Horn at the Kabul Music Academy.

#5 : A male student sits beside female students as they play clarinets at the Kabul Music Academy.

[Credit : Omar Sobhani/Reuters]