Ahmad Zahir
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| احمد ظاهر Ahmad Zahir |
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|---|---|
| Birth name | Ahmad Zahir |
| Born | June 14, 1946 Laghman, Afghanistan |
| Died | June 14, 1979 (aged 33) Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Genre(s) | Soft rock, Pop, Ghazals, Arabesque music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter, Composer |
| Instrument(s) | Harmonium, Piano, Accordion, Electronic keyboard, Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar |
| Years active | 1960s–1979 |
| Label(s) | Afghan Music, Ariana Records, EMI, Music Center |
Ahmad Zahir (Pashto/Persian: احمد ظاهر) (June 14, 1946 - June 14, 1979), was a singer, songwriter, and composer from Afghanistan. A celebrity of enduring popularity more than a quarter century after his death, he is considered an icon of music in Afghanistan.
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Early Years
Ahmad Zahir was born on June 14, 1946 (Jauza 23, 1325 of the Afghan calendar) in Laghman, to Pashtun parents.[1] Others claim he was born to Tajik and Pashai parents.[2] His father, Abdul Zahir, was a royal court doctor, minister of health and also a one-time prime minister and an influential figure in the Zahir Shah era and wrote the Constitution of Afghanistan after graduating from Columbia University of New York. Due to his nobility of birth, Zahir's profession as a singer later became a point of contention between the singer and his elitist father. Still, Zahir loved to sing and pressured by his fans also to kept him performing.
Zahir's interest in music developed early, with his involvements in his high school’s band in the early 1960s. The Amateur Band of Habibia High School modeled themselves after such Western musical groups as the Beatles. The five-member band garnered notability with their performances in local concerts. Most of these were on occasions of large celebrations (Nouroz, Eid, and Afghan Independence Day) and were centered in or around Kabul.
Career
1960s
Rising from the acclaim of the band, Zahir branched onto his solo career by the late 1960s. Much to the dismay of his father who looked forward to a political career for his son, Zahir did not follow his father’s footsteps in statesmanship. Instead, he retained his political insight and later on integrated them into his music. He began composing songs based on well recognized verses of Persian poetry. The meaning and depth of his songs quickly garnered him national attention as did the tenor voice that was complementary to a wide range of musical notes.[citation needed] This work earned critics’ commendation, marking him one of the few musicians who achieved this prestigious honor from the start.[citation needed] The release of his first album was celebrated on radio and newspapers across Afghanistan as jubilant fans fought for the remaining copies of the best seller.[citation needed]
1970s
Zahir was introduced to the best of Afghanistan’s music scene by the thrilled recording studios. Working with such veteran mentors as now late saxophonist Ustad Ismail Azami, trumpeter Ustad Nangalai and Abdulla Atamadi Dramest other composers such, Salim Sarmast, Naynawaz, Taranasaz, and Mas'hour Jamal, he recorded over 22 albums in the 1970s. His songs were noted for their mellifluous tone, poetic style, compelling depth, and passionate emotional evocation.[citation needed] Creating an aesthetic vocabulary in dealing with joy, love, pain, and loneliness in his music that is seen as unparalleled by other Afghan singers.[citation needed] Covering such wide range of subjects, his music had a multi-dimensional lure. Most of this songs were autobiographical.
By the mid 1970s, Zahir's fame had matured and his popularity spilled over national boundaries. At the formal invitation of Empress Farah (then ruler of Iran), he sang the famous melody "Banu Banu" in her honor which he performed in the Royal Court of Iran.[citation needed] After returning to Afghanistan following his well received Iran tour, Zahir was conferred the national Singer of the Year award.[citation needed] In his acceptance speech, he advised aspiring singers that "Ghorur shikast hunari bar mewarad…riqabati hunari bayad sahlim bashad nah hasahdat amiz” (vanity brings failure to artistry…competition in arts needs to be void of envy).[citation needed]
Toward the latter part of 1970s, his iconic image transformed to that of a national hero, with his fans celebrating him as Conqueror by Music. In this time period he also became devout patriot as many of his songs from this time period reflect his strong political views.
Political controversy
With the rise of various political factions in the late 1970s, Zahir became conscious of the socio-political transformation of Afghanistan. Some of his radical songs such as "Zindagi akhir sarayad" convey the views of a revolutionary artist. His next song "Ilahi man namedanam" played on the radio stirred controversy for its politically provocative lyrics.[citation needed] According to government insiders, the song's verse "Tu padshah-e haft kishwar" drew criticism from the government. The administration assumed Ahmad Zahir had denounced President Daoud Khan who was also minister of numerous cabinet positions. Soon radio stations banned the song due to the political pressure levied by the government.
Then in April 1978, the republic was replaced by dictatorship led by President Taraki and eventually by Hafizullah Amin. In recordings of his upcoming albums, he voiced his protest against the Taraki-Amin regime in at least three songs: "Safar bih roshenahi" and "Chi mulk ra baad" and "Bigzarad bigzarad." In the last song, he referred to Taraki as Tariki (Persian: darkness), making a mockery of the new political leader.
Death
Zahir's life came to an end on the morning of June 14, 1979, on his 33rd birthday. Zahir was on the Salang pass Highway when reportedly he was involved in an automobile accident that caused his death.[citation needed]
Foul play and conspiracy
To this day, there is no solid agreement as to what exactly caused Zahir's death. While some theorize the windy roads of Salang as the main cause, others cite alcohol as the culprit. However, a growing body of evidence accumulated suggest possibly foul play on behalf of the antagonized political figures or possibly in-laws involvements.[citation needed] Some doctors, who later re-examined Ahmad Zahir’s body after autopsy, concluded he was also shot in the head.[citation needed] As to when he was shot, before or after the accident, could not be determined.
Theories have emerged as to possible suspects in Zahir’s murder, if classified as such. They are 1) Taraki-Amin regime henchmen whom he had condemned in his songs,[citation needed] 2) the powerful family of his second wife who were unhappy with his liberal lifestyle.[citation needed]
Personal life
Zahir married twice. He and his first wife divorced in 1973, at the zenith of his career. Little is known about the reason of this split. Zahir remarried in 1977 and he left behind two children, a son (first marriage) and a daughter from his second marriage) both of whom live in the United States. His son was born in Seattle, Washington while he and his wife Najia were on vacation
Legacy
Zahir’s fame has not been compared to any previous singer in Afghanistan’s history, earning him as Afghanistan’s Nightingale title.[citation needed] His status has been unrivaled even 27 years after his death (as of 2006).[citation needed] Posthumously granted the status of a luminary, the renditions of his songs serve to this day as voice and music training lessons for the aspiring singers. Often others’ voice command is evaluated based on Zahir’s standards, a reference point to whom the new singers are measured.[citation needed] He is still celebrated as the most popular Afghan music phenomenon and, for many, the purest embodiment of modern Afghan music.
With over 22 albums (not including the improvised recordings) in less than 15 years, he has more songs to his credit than any other Afghan singer. His albums are still outselling all other Afghan singers both inside and outside Afghanistan. He is widely popular in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikestan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Turkey.
Discography
Ahmad Zahir completed 14 albums under the Afghan Music label, two albums under Ariana Music, five albums under Music Center, 8 Albums in Radio Afghanistan, and more than 10 privately recorded studio albums through 1965 to 1979.
His Persian Music albums
- Vol. 1 - Dilak am (1967)
- Vol. 2 - Bahar (1967)
- Vol. 3 - Shab ha ye zulmane (1968)
- Vol. 4 - Mother (1969)
- Vol. 5 - Awara (1969)
- Vol. 6 - Ghulam-e Qamar (1970)
- Vol. 7 - Sultan Qalbaam (1970)
- Vol. 8 - Az Ghamat Hy Nazaneen (1971)
- Vol. 9 - Gulbadaan (1971)
- Vol. 10 - Yaare Bewafa (1971)
- Vol. 11 - Lylee (1971)
- Vol. 12 - Ahmad Zahir and Jila (1972)
- Vol. 13 - Ahange Zindagee (1972)
- Vol. 14 - Shab-e Hijraan (1973)
Note: that most of his Persian Music albums have other songs that should go with the original albums but because of the time and space on audio cassettes a lot of his songs are moved from the original recordings. If people have the original vinyl records then they have all of the songs that should be placed on the albums.
Ariana Music albums
- Vol. 1 - Daard-e Dil (1973)
- Vol. 2 - Mosum-e Gul (1974)
Note: For people who have the original Ariana Music records for Ahmad Zahir, there are many hidden tracks in the original albums.
Music Center albums
- Vol. 1 - Neshe Gashdum (1974)
- Vol. 2 - Ashiq rooyat Mon (1975)
- Vol. 3 - Lylee Jaan (1976)
- Vol. 4 - Ahmad Zahir Ba Sitara Haa (1977)
- Vol. 5 - To Baamanee (completed in 1978 but released in 1979 after his death)
Private albums
- Shamali
Other discography information
- He has over 10 private recording albums from 1965 - 1978
- He only recorded 2 music videos in Radio Kabul TV.
- Laylee Jaan in 1976 and Khuda buwat yarret in 1977
- Ahmad Zahir recorded several songs in Radio Kabul and Radio Afghanistan studios which later on came out as albums. There are now a total of his eight of these albums that have been released.
- It is said that he has several music videos and a concert recorded on video in Iran.
- It is rumored that Ahmad Zahir has a concert and majliss that Radio Kabul had recorded but the Khalq regime destroyed the recordings.
Notes
- ^ New York Times, Kabul Journal; The Afghan Elvis 'Lives' 24 Years After His Death..."An ethnic Pashtun who sang mostly in Dari, he won fans in all ethnic groups."
- ^ Professor Enayatullah Shahrani (Dean of the Fine Arts Faculty of Kabul University) (1999). Bazmeh Ghazal.
References
- Muted Musicians See Hope in Young Performers. Afghanistan Online. Retrieved on 27 August, 2005.
- Central Asia in Words and Pictures. Almaty or Bust. Retrieved on 27 August, 2005.
- Review of Anthology of World Music: The Music of Afghanistan. Delusions of Adequacy Reviews. Retrieved on 28 January, 2006.
- Afghan Music Before the War. Mikalina. Retrieved on 27 August, 2005.
- Sakata, Hiromi Lorraine (1983). Music in the Mind: The Concepts of Music and Musician in Afghanistan. Kent State University Press. ISBN 0-87338-265-X.
