How would you feel if the government banned you from making any form of music? Not so great, right? That is probably how the Afghans feel after the Taliban and post-Soviet governments prohibited them from playing music in public during the 90s. Afghan music, despite the destruction of musical instruments and arrestment of singers and musicians, continues to live on via music downloads. Here is a couple of websites where you can download Afghan music:
* Afghan 3000 (http://www.afghan3000.com)
* Afghan Buzz (http://www.afghanbuzz.com)
* Afghan Mania (http://www.afghanmania.com/en/afghan-mp3)
* Afghan Site (http://www.afghansite.com/AfghanMP3)
* Afghan Songs (http://www.afghansongs.com)
* Indian Child (http://www.indianchild.com/Music/download_pashto_afghan_songs_music.htm)
* Mastana (http://www.mastana.net/music/)
* United Afghan (http://afgmp3.com)
* Virtual Afghans (http://www.virtualafghans.com/music/free_mp3_download.asp)
Most Afghan songs are written in either Pashto or Persian but their musical style varies. Aside from the Klasik (Afghan classical music) and religious music they use for worship, Afghan music also includes both pop and hip-hop. Yes, Afghans know their hip-hop. Very popular among the younger generation, Afghan hip-hop is a mix of western hip-hop and Afghan cultural sounds. Some of the most popular hip-hop artists in Afghanistan are DJ Besho and Da Jokerz.
The most downloaded genre in Afghan music is probably Afghan pop music. From Afghan diva Farida Mahwash’s “O bacheh" to Afghan music icon Ahmad Zahir’s “Zindagi akhir sarayad," you can find downloads of Afghan pop music all over the World Wide Web. Afghan pop music, which is usually incorporated in film productions, uses orchestras that feature both Afghan/Indian and western musical instruments. Afghans are also fond of using Indian instruments such as sarods and sitars and European instruments like clarinets and guitars.
