Ahmad Wali
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| احمد ولی Ahmad Wali |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ahmad Wali (احمد ولی) |
| Born |  Afghanistan |
| Genre(s) | Pop Classical Music Ghazals |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Label(s) | Various |
Ahmad Wali (Persian: احمد ولی ) is a popular Afghan singer. Born in Kabul, he comes from the Mohammadzai families. He now resides in the Bay Area of California USA, having immigrated from Afghanistan to Germany and then subsequently to the Americas due to the political turmoil of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. He is one of the celebrities of Afghanistan's Golden Years of music that lasted up until the late 70s. A legendary singer whose fame has perpetuated over three decades, he is considered an iconic singer of Afghanistan music industry.
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[edit] Background
The son of a police commander Mohammad Akram Nawabi, he is said to have grown up in an influential family around strict discipline. According to his official website, he is reported to have developed an interest in music, and particularly in singing, early on. He learned to play the Tabla (hand drums]] at twelve years of age, before the renown Master player of Tabla Ustad Mohammad Hashim. Emerging from the background figure of a Tabla player, he eventually took the spotlight to start singing. First shadowing other commanding singers in events, he established a position for himself over time. He eventually recorded an audio tape of his live recordings which was presented to Ustad Zaland, a prominent director of Kabul Radio Station.
His encounter with Zaland proved fruitful as the legendary singer took the young singer under his wings. He composed a song for Ahmad Wali titled Chashman –e –Abee and this song coupled with Mah-ruye-tu (composed by A. Wali himself) immediately shot the singer to fame. This was when he was still attending the Habibia High School.
As was the practice in Afghanistan at the time, new talents were expected to immediately start performing live after their initial recordings to solidify their fame and gain mass popularity. Ahmad Wali’s first performance was held on the occasion of Mother’s Day on which day he sang the newly composed Ma Qurban-e-Saru-Paye-tu-Meshum Madar-e-man. A performance applauded, he immediately became a household name as the range of his voice and confidence coupled with his looks completely stunned Afghanistan. That year, he won the “Singer of the Year” award. He continues to be one of the top singers of all times.
[edit] Popularity
Given his luck and his look, he instantly became the new sensation of Afghanistan’s music industry. Vying with other professional rivals, he was counted as one of the top singers in Afghanistan. Several surveys conducted in the 70s named Ahmad Wali as the “Most Handsome” and “Most Good-looking Bachelor” and “Most Desirable” singer. He often teamed with other singers in recording music albums, such as Hangama, Mahwash, Salma Jahani and others. He also joined the musical parties together with Ahmad Zahir, Zahir Howaida, Ustad Nainawaz and others. Moreover, he toured Iran in an International Cultural Exchange event which further contributed to his popularity. At this time, he took upon himself to enroll in the orchestra group of Ministry of Interior.
Furthermore, he took music lessons from one of the greatest Masters of Classical Music, Ustad Sarahang. He also took lessons from Ustad Naynawaz, and took many compositions from masters such as: Ustad Fazel Ahmad "Naynawaz", Ustad Shah Wali "Taranasaaz", Ustad Khyal, and his brother Ahmad Karim "Shenawa". A couple years of complacency followed and then came the revolution of 1978 that gripped the nation into a political chaos. Between 1978 and 1980, Ahmad Wali (like other singers of his era) were harassed by various political factions. So in 1980, he fled the country for Germany where he restarted his career.
Throughout the early to mid 80s, Ahmad Wali toured several European countries. Often the proceeds of these concerts were sent to the refugees and displaced persons of the Afghan civil war.
In 1987, Ahmad Wali moved to the United States and thereafter permanently settled in that country. He now continues singing in various parts of United States, often in concerts and charity events.
Ahmad Wali is among the most popular and influential Afghan singers of all times. He is a patriotic, loyal Afghan, whose devotion for his homeland and Afghan music is evident in his songs and his generous donations for Afghan widows and orphans.
[edit] Personal life
left|Ahmad Wali and Hangama's joint album Ahmad Wali, on numerous occasions in the 70s, had been linked to his fellow singer Hangama. The two recorded several songs together, and the attributed romantic chemistry of their music videos was a constant topic in the press. Neither of them admitted or denied any involvement beyond professional level when interviewed. But when the two left the country and met up in Germany again, they married. However, both Ahmad Wali and Hangama do not talk about their marriage or their subsequent divorce, the details of which are not elaborate written material.
However, Ahmad Wali has been re-married after divorcing Hangama and lives in San Francisco with his wife. He has a son named Masih from his first marriage who lives in Canada with Hangama.
