Ahmad Zahir

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Ahmad Zahir , also Ahmed Zahir , Ahmad Zaher ( Persian احمد ظاهر; * June 14, 1946 in Laghman Province ; † June 14, 1979 at the Salang Pass near Kabul ) is probably the best-known singer and poet in Afghanistan . Zahir released 27 albums. Even 30 years after his death, he is still considered the most popular singer in popular Afghan music .

Life

Zahir's father, Abdul Zahir , a well-known politician, was Prime Minister during Zahir Shah's reign . Ahmad Zahir attended Habibia High School, where he made his debut at the age of 15 with his song Aya Bulbul-i-Shoridah (“Outraged Nightingale”), which was broadcast a few years later on Radio Kabul. Because of his voice he was nicknamed Bulbul-i Habibia ("Nightingale of Habibia").

In 1961, with the support of Abdul Ghafur Breshna, a group of amateur musicians formed an orchestra in the Radio Kabul building, which Ahmad Zahir joined. The band's first concert took place in the Cinima-i-Kabul . Three years later, Zahir gave his first solo concert in Cinima-i-Kabul . The band used Western instruments such as the electronic organ , electric guitar and drums .

From 1967 he studied education in New Delhi, where his father was accredited as an ambassador, but gave up his studies in order to devote himself entirely to music. In 1969 he returned to Afghanistan and worked for the Kabul Times and at the same time for Afghan Films (among other things, he dubbed the actor Erik Ode in the television series "Der Kommissar" from the mid-1970s ). In 1973 its popularity spread beyond the borders of Afghanistan. However, the political movement of his time was not left out: With radical-revolutionary poetry: "zindagi akhir sarayad, bandagi dar car-o nist, bandagi dar shart-o bashad, zindagi dar car-o nist" (German translation: Existence will run out anyway, why endure bondage, if slavery is essential for survival, this life is of no use). Like many of his generation, he welcomed the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the republic and welcomed them with two songs: Da Jumhuriat and Mubarak Jumhuriat Mubarak ; like many of the former enthusiasts, he too soon became a critic of the Daud dictatorship, and he expressed his dissatisfaction in a set of music and disguised text - until it was banned, broadcast on Radio Afghanistan. Safar bih roshenahi (journey without light), in which he alternately uses Tahriki (darkness) and Taraki (party and state leader); in Bigzarad bigzarad umre you bigzarad be Taraki's murderous purges discussed.

On June 14, 1979, before the end of Taraki, 33-year-old Ahmad Zahir was, as reported in the media, the victim of a fatal car accident on the Salang Pass. Some people close to Zahir suggested that he might have been murdered.

Discography

  • 1967: Dilak bin
  • 1967: Bahar
  • 1968: Shab ha-e-zulmani
  • 1969: Madar
  • 1969: Awara
  • 1970: Ghulam -e-Qamar
  • 1970: Sultan e-Qalbha
  • 1971: Az Ghamat ay Nazaneen
  • 1971: Gulbadaan
  • 1971: Yaare Bewafa
  • 1971: Laily
  • 1972: Ahmad Zahir and Jila
  • 1972: Ahange Zindagee
  • 1973: Shab-e Hijraan
  • 1973: Dard-e-Dil
  • 1974: Neeshe Gashdum
  • 1975: Aasheq rooyat Man
  • 1976: Lylee Jaan
  • 1977: Ahmad Zahir ba Sitara Ha
  • 1978: To Baamanee
  • Shamali
  • Aye Rashke Gol Ha
  • live
  • Wairana Manzil
  • Gol Haye Jawedan
  • Songs from Afghanistan
  • Yad Ha Wa Khatera Ha
  • Yad Ha Wa Khatera Ha 2
  • Majlesi

literature

  • Ludwig W. Adamec : Historical Dictionary of Afghanistan. Scarecrow Press, Lanham 2011, p. 456 (sv Zahir, Ahmad )
  • Abdul-Wahab Madadi, John Baily : Zāhir, Ahmad. In: Grove Music Online, 2001

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Biography. ahmadzahir.com
personal data
SURNAME Zahir, Ahmad
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Zahir, Ahmed; Zaher, Ahmad; احمد ظاهر (Persian)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Afghan singer
DATE OF BIRTH June 14, 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH Laghman Province
DATE OF DEATH June 14, 1979
Place of death near Kabul