Saqiya mara darya ahmad zahir biography
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America and the
USSR were fighting a cold war, and Afghanistan became the epicenter of the conflict. As more and more Afghans sided with the communists, Ahmad Zahir saw his country going down a dark path, and he spoke out through his music. Sadly, his precious Shabnam, whom he was eagerly looking forward to, would come into the world on the same day of his passing.
More than a quarter of a century after his death, his popularity remains strong among his fans.
He himself would mainly play the accordion as he sang. Before him are Héctor Lavoe, Dan McCafferty, Shujaat Hussain, Joe Dante, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, and Nicolau dos Reis Lobato. Zahir recorded at least 14 studio albums before his abrupt death on his 33rd birthday in 1979. Such songs, which carried revolutionary lyrics and reflected the feelings of a patriotic artist, stirred enough controversy in the political realms, which would later cost him his life.
On his 33h birthday (June 14, 1979) he was assassinated by the order of a communist general named Daud Taroon who used one of Ahmad Zahir’s best friends as an accomplice to carry out his orders.
He had chosen the name Shabnam should it be a girl.
But his true calling, of course, was to sing. 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. Abdul Zahir (left), seated alongside President Kennedy (right) in the White House served as Prime Minister of Afghanistan from November 1971 to March 1972.
Ahmad Zahir
SINGER
1946 - 1979
Ahmad Zahir
Ahmad Zahir (Pashto/Dari: احمد ظاهر; 14 June 1946 – 14 June 1979) was an Afghan singer, songwriter and composer.
In one particular concert, during his school days, he sang so beautifully that his schoolmates declared him “Bulbul-e Habibia”.
He was one of the key architects of the new constitution ratified in
1964, which aimed to introduce democratic principles and safeguard
fundamental rights, including freedom of the press and women's
rights. Ahmad Zahir, however, pushed these freedoms even further,
challenging the conventional mindset and daring to explore beyond
the confines of societal norms. Defying the expectations of his
upper-class family, he took on a path that was considered
taboo: that of a musician.
Rising from the acclaim of the band, Ahmad Zahir branched onto his solo career. ZAHIR vividly transports viewers back to the Afghanistan of the 60s and 70s, a time when violence was not a part of everyday life, when Kabul was known as the “Paris of Central Asia” and young people were experiencing unprecedented freedoms.
Ahmad Zahir, the son of Prime Minister Dr.
Abdul Zahir, emerged
from a lineage deeply entrenched in political power and influence. While the government media reports that he was killed in a car accident, the bullet wound to his head strongly suggests that it was no accident. He adjusted his tone and the contents of his music to reflect his feelings through his songs, such as zindagi akhir sar Ayed, bigzarad bigzarard, and safar bee roshenAyee.
But his voice recordings were not the only means through which his vast pool of fans was able to listen to his enchanting voice. Ahmad Zahir's personal brand -
of rock-inflected Afghan pop infused with Farsi and Sufi poetry -
quickly became a sensation across the entire region. Dubbed the "Elvis of Afghanistan", he is widely considered the all-time greatest singer of Afghanistan.
Among people deceased in 1979, Ahmad Zahir ranks 85. Throughout this adventurous journey of his life, he was able to make many friends and countless fans because of his great charisma, charm, and friendly personality.
With the changes in the political landscape of Afghanistan, Ahmad Zahir became conscious of the socio-political transformation of his homeland.
Carrying his musical instincts to new heights, he began composing songs based on well-recognized Dari poems. Born on June 14, 1946, he was the son of late Dr. Abdul Zahir (born 1910, in Laghman), who was an influential Afghan politician and a one time Afghan Prime Minister (1971-1972) during the reign of King Zahir Shah.
Ahmad Zahir attended Habibia High School in the early 1960s and his interest in music developed during this period where he often sang in his school concerts, accompanied by his band that was made up of mainly his friends and classmates: Nabil Miskinyar on drums, Omar Sultan on guitar, Farid Zaland on congas and Kabir Howaida on piano, as well as other talented musicians who would accompany him from time to time.