Music in Afghanistan, Pashto Music History of Afghanistan

Music in Afghanistan

Music in Afghanistan has been a dream. During most of the years after Afghanistan origin, it had faced only war and troubles rather than entertainment and amusement. Music and poetries were not in any form to give a natural spirit to people. They gave just the war spirit describing the vents of war. After such tortoise developments, in 1990 it had been totally banned by the Taliban rule. They banned the musical instruments and public music. This was the cruelest fate to the afghan music. Musician left their jobs and started trading for their living. Some determined musicians and singers continued the afghan music and they were solely responsible for the Pashto music to reach its heights. They started spreading the music to many important cities in Pakistan. Afghan music became very popular in Pakistan cities. Afghanistan people love Hindi bollywood songs too.

Afghan Folk Music and its Variations
Just like any country would have the most traditional songs to be the folk music, Afghanistan too had folk music to be the most traditional and interesting music of its time. They were mostly based on the rhythm, meaning they were highly suitable for a happy jerk and dance. They could be sung in either chorus or solo.

Tappa are also a little older and they are mainly based on the poems. Along with the folk and this tappa, we have another genre of music called the Charbeta. This is a variation of the folk music. This is considered one of the famous sources of pride to the afghan music. They respect the literature by using the Pashto poetries and adding slow music to them. They are not only inspiring but also melodious. They are at the same time in folk style so very suitable for stage dances.

Neemakai is usually sung by women in folk style. They would be very simple without any necessary rules of literature. They lyrics would be repeated often throughout the song. Adding tappa to neemakai is also one of the richest songs in Afghanistan. Tappa is considered the original song of Afghanistan and its people. Indian ragas are also added to these neemakais and they are usually slow and rhythmic with lyrics.

Lobahs are also very popular folk genre. They are famous for mass singing. They are also added with tappas most of the times. It would be like replying during singing to the opposite poetry. It would be better if they were sung in chorus. The two parties would be the lovers, who discuss their love history or fight out of expectations. This gives a complete feel of a story and hence it mainly focuses on a drama like structure. Later this was used in many dramas. They were just like dialogs being sung using different music.

Gualala is considered one of the pure forms of music genre. It is not based on folk and it belongs not to illiterates. They belong to high-class literate people. They do not go in chorus or in upbeat. They are slow and rising.