Abdul Rahim Sarban

This article is about the Afganistani singer. For the British writer and diplomat Sarban (literary name of John William Wall), see Sarban (author).

Abdul Rahim Sarban

Sarban (born Abdul Rahim Sarban, Persian: عبدالرحیم ساربان) was an Afghanistani singer. He is known for his unique voice and music style that no other Afghan singer has been able to imitate. The legendary Ahmad Zahir was a fan of Sarban and incorporated his original songs into Zahir's own collection. Sarban is also known in Iran and Tajikestan, where he gave several rounds of live performances at the height of his career.

Career

Sarban’s life is said to have been unhappy. Little is known of his childhood and most sources only speak of him after his rise to fame.

From humble beginnings to national recognition, Sarban gained popularity due to his unconventional music style and a voice that simultaneously absorbed and repelled the listener. Due to the uniqueness of the tone of his voice, he was constantly analyzed. He had a polarized fan base as those who loved him did so with a passion and those who disregarded him also did so with strong sentiments.

Alcoholism

Sarban was reclusive and a shy man throughout his life. He seemed indifferent to fame and his celebrity status. Sarban had a drinking problem most of his life. There are no clear records of when he started drinking, but it was a well-known fact in Kabul Radio that Sarban could not sing without having a drink first. During the early 80s his alcoholism was taking its toll, and some of the symptoms began to manifest themselves: eccentric behavior on the stage; his speech began to deteriorate. The deteriorating voice effectively ended his singing career.

There are many legends about Sarban and why he was such a tragic figure. Some have attributed Sarban's alcoholism to a tragic love affair when he was a young man and others have speculated that he suffered from clinical depression. Most of Sarban's fans would strongly reject the notion of Sarban being alcoholic due to cultural taboos associated with alcoholism in Afghan society; therefore, the idea of Sarban as a lovelorn tragic figure is more popular among his fans.

Death

Sarban died in poverty living in Pakistan.

Contribution

Sarban was the first person to put lyrics to the Ahesta Boro anthem. His recording, a must in every Afghan wedding, is enjoyed just as enthusiastically as it was when it was first released decades ago. He is also remembered for his Gul Parast song, along with hundreds of other songs. The music, lyrics and tone of the song have the critics startled to this day.