Waziristan Weeps

په ګران وزیرستان کی غیر اغیار نه منو

Post by Waziristan - The Lion's Den.

The song from the hills and mountains of Waziristan is fitting reminder that Waziristan whilst brave and tenacious, has been infiltrated and damaged by outsiders - jihadist militants, US drones, and Pakistani forces. And now the refugee crisis;  in Pakistan called, IDPs - Internally Displaced People, where even liberal Pakistanis have shut their doors on the human traffic that is the inevitable fallout from a military offensive (Operation Zarb-e-Azb). Déjà vu. We've seen this all before. The events today in Waziristan are not disimilar from the events four years ago: As If Hell Fell On Me.

Whilst the Pakistani establishment turns its offensive on Waziristan as a public reponse to this month's attack on Karachi Airport, there is an eerie reminder that we struggle to move forwards because we don't learn from the past. This is about Pashtuns caught in the middle of a bigger war, yet again. 

A Song for Peace - سوله

بریښنا امیل - سوله

Quite understandably, I guess, we Pashtuns are good at lamenting our troubles in our music and poetry. I like the optimism in this song however and Sola (Peace) by Brekhna Ameel gives us a chance to savour the positivity. May Allah be merciful and guide us.

Pakhwa پخوا

Periodically we need to take a look back and so we do with the lyrics and title پخوا for this song by Ismail and Junaid. They combine rock guitars with the rubâb and blend tradition with a contemporary sound. The appeal factor, for me, however, are the words written by Hamza Shinwari Baba. An excellent ode to the Pashto language.

This video begins with a title slide that is a reminder that many have lost their lives in the turmoil in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  We should not let ourselves forget.

Find Ismail and Junaid on Facebook.

Video Credits:

Pakhwa by Ismail and Junaid
Tune Composition: Ismail Khan / Rafiq Shinwari
Poetry: Hamza Shinwari
D.O.P: Bilal Farooq & Haseeb Shah
Directed by: Shoaib Anwar / Jawad Zeb
Edited by: Shoaib Anwar

عید نوروز

نوروز د نوی کال او د سپرلی اوله ورځ ده ۰دا جشن تقریباً دری زره کاله سابقه لری او د نړی دری سوه مِلیونه خلک دا جشن لمانځی۰

 نوی کال په شاندار مرسمو یادیږي او هغه هیوادونه چې دا جشن لمانځی هغه افغنستان، ایران، تُرکيه، قزاقستان، تاتارستان او ترکمنستان دي۰ داسي دا رنګ نور سیمي پکښې هم شامل دي لکه بالکان، کُردستان، چین، هندوستان او پاکستان۰

 ټولو ته د نوی کال مبارک

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ښايسته افغانستان

ښايسته افغانستان
This song by Zeek Afridi is one of my favourites at the moment. Enjoy.

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Check out this post with a similar title, sung by Shafiq Mureed. 

Rubâb Interlude ...

The music and pictures take me places. Enjoy ...

Purple Rain

 "Purple Rain"
(Prince)

I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted to one time see you laughing
I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain

I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend
Baby I could never steal you from another
It's such a shame our friendship had to end

Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Honey I know I know I know times are changing
It's time we all reach out for something new
That means you too
You say you want a leader
But you can't seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple rain

Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain

If you know what I'm singing about up here
C'mon raise your hand

Purple rain Purple rain

I only want to see you only want to see you
Purple rain

(SOLOS)

Woo Woo Woo Woo .....

Ghazala Javed غزاله جاوید

I saw Ghazala Javed غزاله جاوید in concert a little over a year ago and she held the stage with a real presence - combining talent, beauty and grace. The news, therefore, of her death stuns me all the more.

Ghazala's death has generated world-wide media interest and various sources have reported the events of her death (alongside her father) as a domestic 'honour' killing, rather than an act traced to the Taliban in Pakistan's restive north. Ghazala's popularity stemmed Pakistan, Afghanistan, the UAE and across the Pashtoon diaspora. Coming at a young age, her death puts her alongside the many media icons whom I have periodically honoured for being forever known for their youth, beauty and voice.

Inalillahi wa ina illahi rajioun. Of course, the many unnamed people across the world who are killed and injured daily in various acts of violence are not forgotten and I hold a thought for each and all. From Allah we came and to Allah we return. May she rest in peace.

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Haroon Bacha

د سیند د سپینو شګو نه می جوړ کړ یو محل

This is a special presentation of three greats - the poetry, the voice and the music. Ghani Khan writes, Haroon Bacha performs and Homayun Sakhi plays the rubâb.

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I Want To See The World United ...

The song comes from the UN's 7 Billion Actions series, and gives us a chance to look forwards with a simple message of unity.  It is a good way to start the New Year.

Hope and wishes.

Kabul: A City At Work

In my trawls through blogs of note, I came across this one. Away from the news of the war and the political uncertainties, these short films offer a glimpse into life and work in Kabul, Afghanistan. I chose the film here because it features a version of a soundtrack that is connected to an early memory of mine. The song "Yema da Truck Driver" is a light-hearted song, that brings a little smile back to me as I remember hearing this on cassette tape way back when. The version that I know from the movie, Orbal, is available here.

Being a jingle truck painter, is a contemporary art form. What better than to recognise this here:

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یو ځله که تا وخندل

  یو ځله که تا وخندل 

Yow Zhal Ka Ta Wakhandal - Homayun Sahebzai

A little musical escapism ... I like this indeed. Enjoy.

Bakht Zamina - بخت زمينه

There is something incredibly iconic about media personalities who die young - James Dean, Che Guevara, Princess Diana, Madhubala - their images frozen in youth forever. 

Bakht Zamina, بخت زمينه, is amongst those iconic names and was caught up in the conflicts between Soviet loyalists and the resistance at the start of the Afghan troubles beginning in the seventies. Her loyalties to the resistance and her songs of support meant that she ultimately paid with her life.

In perhaps, one of the clearest surviving recordings in the public sphere, she performs Akhtar De Mazedara. One for a glimpse into what was certainly a beautiful past.

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The Piano

The Piano, an animated short by Aidan Gibbons is a film that speaks on many levels, and incredibly, all without voice. It begins, very simply, with a man playing a piano and during the course of the film we learn a little about his life, his thoughts, his sense of separation and his hope. Overall, a very touching experience.

I have seen this in three versions - two different soundtracks and a completely silent version. It so happens to be the film that is a focus of study with my class of 10 year-olds. Click here for the version used in schools, whilst just below, I present the original version featuring 'Comptine D'une Autre Ete' by Yann Tiersen.

Aziz Alemzay - ملی اتڼ

A musical interlude. Enjoy. The video here by Aziz Alemzay features the Attan.

راشهئ ځوانانو ملی اتڼ جوړ دی

عزیز عالمزی

 

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The PashTones!

We live in a world full of cultural crossroads. The PashTones represent an adaptation of Pashto folk songs in American folk/acoustic styles. On their website, the PashTones write that they wish "to expand current modes of engagement and exchange between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the West by opening into the register of poetry and music." It is always a positive step when people take a genuine interest.

The after-effects of last year's floods in Pakistan still continue to affect millions. 20 million people are still in need of urgent assistance in the affected areas.  An estimated 1.9 million homes were damaged or destroyed in the tragedy, and efforts are still needed to help rebuild lives. All proceeds from this album sales will go toward Oxfam's flood relief efforts in Pakistan. 

 

 

Enjoy the three track sampler.
Follow the PashTones further on Facebook.

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Dancing Around The World

"14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands. Thanks to everyone who danced with me." Matt Harding.

I love this. In a world where there is much to lament about, I love the simple hope that this video conveys.

Featuring the vocals of Palbasha Siddique. Lyrics to the track "Praan" adapted from "Stream of Life", from the Gitanjali by Rabrindanath Tagore.

Tareef Karun ...

One for a moment of nostalgia. Mohammed Rafi performs Ye Chand Sa Roshan Chehra (This Face with the Glow of the Moon) picturised on Shammi Kapoor and featuring Sharmila Tagore from the film Kashmir Ki Kali.

I love the line "Tareef karun kya uski jisne tumhe baniya" (let me praise the one who created you).

Pashtunkhwa Zindabad

Pashtunkhwa Zindabad by Abdullah Muqurai



Dedicated to all.
Brought to my attention by a friend and a visitor to these pages.

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Books, Pens and Bombs

With the reported re-emergence of the Taliban in Swat, the news that the Pakistan army operation in Waziristan did not succeed in 'eliminating' Hakimullah Mehsud, the recent report that a French missile strike killed children in Kapisa and that the US reports that the violence in Kandahar is set to get worse, the mood is mixed. I look at the situation with confusion. Nothing appears to be black and white. What does the world want with Pashtoons? Why are we unable to find the solutions to move forwards? We have such a wonderful culture, so why must I lament?

نه مې کتاب ملگرى ، نه زۀ قلم پېژنم
Na mi kitab malgaree, na za qalam pejanam
Books are not my friend, and nor do I recognise pens

This song comes from the BBC studios, 1999. Sung by Hashmat Asmand, composed by Mohammed Karawan. The words just break my heart. The discussion - who is ruining schools in Pashtoon areas is explored here. This is something that I would like to come back to in a future posting, InshAllah. Meanwhile may Allah, keep us all safe.

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