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#AhmadZahir’s popularity was unlike any other musician in his milieu. His concert recordings witness the loud cheers of his audience— often #women who were in love with his voice, persona & charm. @MejganMassoumi MM 1/14
#AhmadZahir collaborated with several women in the region, including vocalists and poets, that transmitted messages of #love and musings on humanity. Images from left top to bottom right: #KhanumZheela #Googoosh #Sonia #KarimaWidaa MM 2/14
#KhanumZheela and #UstadMahwash (the only female Afghan Ustad to-date) sang duets with #AhmadZahir, recording popular ballads aired on the radio. Together, they helped push the boundaries of gender relations in #Afghanistan. Image Source: Zhwandoun Magazine 1354 MM 3/14
In this track, #AhmadZahir performs a duet w/ Khanum Zheela گفتی که میبوسم ترا (“You Said I Would Kiss You”) with lyrics by the female poet #SiminBehbehani سیمین بهبهانی, composed by #ShahWaliTaranasaz and recorded at @rtaworld . MM 4/14
This song, composed by @Nainawazstudio, pairs #AhmadZahir and #UstadMahwash ساقیا مرا دریاب پر کن از وفا جامم (“Saqi find me, fill my cup with devotion”) and features #UstadNalah on #flute. It too was recorded at @rtaworld . MM 5/14
#AhmadZahir composed and recorded the love ballet "چه خلاف سر زد از ما ("What went wrong with us?") in many versions. In this rendition, #KarimaWidaa recites a poem by #NasirTohoori, in the middle of the song. MM 6/14
The poem follows:
به جای سرمه ز چشم تو خواب میریزد
Instead of kohl, sleep pours from your eyes
به جای خنده ز لعلت شراب میریزد
Instead of laughter, wine flows from your graceful lips
MM 7/14
به جای سرمه ز چشم تو خواب میریزد
Instead of kohl, sleep pours from your eyes
به جای خنده ز لعلت شراب میریزد
Instead of laughter, wine flows from your graceful lips
MM 7/14
تو از شکوفه ی خورشید هم شگفته تری
You are more luminous than the sunrise
ز هر نگاه تو صد آفتاب میریزد
From each one of your glances, a hundred suns gleam
( #NasirTohoori) ناصر طهوری —
MM 8/14
You are more luminous than the sunrise
ز هر نگاه تو صد آفتاب میریزد
From each one of your glances, a hundred suns gleam
( #NasirTohoori) ناصر طهوری —
MM 8/14
As an ambassador of Afghan culture and arts to the world, #AhmadZahir also sang and performed recorded duets with the #Indian star, Sonia, in the 1970s. Further fusing the bond between the regions. MM 9/14
#AhmadZahir continues to inspire female artists from around the world including @zebandhaniya from #Pakistan, #ShabnamSurayo from #Tajikistan, #Googoosh from #Iran, and the self-proclaimed Afghan Diva, @AryanaSayeed
MM 10/14
MM 10/14
Here is @zebandhaniya performing their rendition of #AhmadZahir’s track لیلی جان (Lali Lali jaan). MM 11/14
#ShabnamSurayo performs #AhmadZahir’s song در کنج دلم (“In the Corner of My Heart”). MM 12/14
#Googoosh گوگوش sings #AhmadZahir’s song ای ساربان (“Oh Caravan Drivers”), the lyrics written in the 13th century by سعدی #Saadi and composed by #JalilZaland جلیل ځلاند. MM 13/14
And here is @AryanaSayeed performing on @TOLO_TV in #Kabul her version of #AhmadZahir’s song, originally composed by #ShahWaliTaranasaz, تو برايم مقدسی (“You are sacred to me”). MM 14/14
