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Afghanistan’s first all-girl orchestra ready to perform at Davos

Afghanistan’s first all-girl orchestra ready to perform at Davos

They are led by Negina Khpalwak, Afghanistan's first female conductor
Updated 19 Jan, 2017

In the face of death threats and accusations they are dishonouring their families by daring to perform, the women of Afghanistan’s first all-female orchestra are charting a new destiny for themselves through music. The group is set to be catapulted onto the world stage with a performance at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Zohra, an ensemble of 35 young musicians aged 13 to 20, some orphans or from poor families, will be performing before 3,000 CEOs and heads of state during a session on Thursday and at the closing concert on Friday.

Led by Negina Khpalwak, who will be celebrating her 20th birthday on the return flight from Europe, the girls have overcome death threats and discrimination in this deeply conservative war-torn country to play together. With their hair hastily knotted, eyes focused on their instruments, the musicians performed in unison under Khpalwak’s baton earlier this month at one of their last rehearsals in Kabul before the concert.

“She is Afghanistan’s first female conductor,” Dr Ahmad Sarmast, the musicologist who founded Afghanistan’s National Institute of Music (Anim) and the Zohra orchestra, said proudly of Khpalwak. Sarmast understands the risk facing women in Afghanistan who pursue music — which was banned during the Taliban’s repressive 1996-2001 rule and is still frowned upon in the tightly gender-segregated conservative society. Zohra, he says, is “very symbolic” for Afghanistan.

At 18, violinist Zarifa Adiba has already performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. In Davos, she will also conduct four pieces as the second conductor of the orchestra, where the young Shia Hazara girl with high cheekbones knows how to obtain focus and silence among the excited young troops.

For Dr Sarmast, who wants to promote “a better side of the country than the Kalashnikov, rockets and suicide attacks”, these girls are Afghanistan’s best ambassadors. “We hope to change the perception of Afghanistan abroad,” he said.


Originally published in Dawn January 19th, 2017

Comments

Asif Kashmiri Jan 19, 2017 03:18pm
Nice one - congradulations from Pakistan
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Jigar Jan 19, 2017 06:10pm
Good job ladies, keep it up.
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Giri Jan 19, 2017 06:49pm
Very Good. Best Wishes to these young ladies. Hope more women follow the example.
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Rao Jan 19, 2017 07:02pm
Why in god's name, anyone deny joy of beautiful music played by beautiful girls or young people?
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Ayan das Jan 19, 2017 07:16pm
good keep up the spirits
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KPK Jan 19, 2017 07:32pm
Good luck ladies!
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sATT Jan 19, 2017 08:25pm
One day Afghanistan will become best country in the world.
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a Jan 19, 2017 10:09pm
Beautiful girls !!
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AHA Jan 19, 2017 10:25pm
Good luck beauties
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Jj Jan 19, 2017 11:24pm
What good tidings!
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AXH Jan 20, 2017 01:45am
Very cool!
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Princess_of_DHUMP Jan 20, 2017 01:54am
Play on girls - No-one can stop you!
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Abs UK Jan 20, 2017 04:07am
Excellent keep going girls.
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Vijay B Jan 20, 2017 08:12am
Hats off to these brave and talented young ladies. Good luck. Keep it up .
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Indian Jan 20, 2017 08:54am
very nice looks like Indian musical Instrument Sitar
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mohsin raza khan Jan 20, 2017 09:52am
Afghanistan needs more of this. These girls are a beacon of hope for their unfortunate country. God bless them.
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Iftikhar Husain Jan 20, 2017 05:46pm
I welcome the courage of these girls wish them a good performance. I feel very proud for this initiative by the girls of Afghanistan.
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