Ahmad Zahir

Ahmad Zahir

Ahmad Zahir (Template:PerB) (June 14, 1946 - June 14, 1979), was a singer, songwriter, and composer from Afghanistan. A celebrity of enduring popularity more than a quarter century after his death, he is considered an icon of Afghan music both within Afghanistan and abroad.

Early Years

Ahmad Zahir was born on June 14, 1946 in Laghman. His father, Abdul Zahir, was a royal court doctor, one-time prime minister, and an influential figure during the Zahir Shah era who co-wrote the Constitution of Afghanistan after graduating from Columbia University in New York. Due to his nobility of birth, Ahmad Zahir's profession as a singer later became a point of contention between the singer and his father.

Ahmad Zahir's interest in music developed early, with his involvements in his high school’s band in the early 1960s. The Amateur Band of Habibia High School, as they became known, modeled themselves after such Western musical groups as the Beatles. The five-member band garnered notability with their performances in local concerts. Most of these were on occasions of large celebrations (Nouroz, Eid, Afghan Independence Day, etc.) and were centered in or around Kabul.

Rising from the acclaim of the band, Ahmad Zahir branched onto his solo career by the late 1960s. Much to the dismay of his father who looked forward to a political career for his son, Ahmad didn’t follow his father’s footsteps in statesmanship. Instead, he retained his political insight and later on integrated them into his music. Carrying his musical instincts to new heights, he began composing songs based on well recognized verses of Persian poetry. The meaning and depth of his songs quickly garnered him national attention as did the tenor voice that was complementary to a wide range of musical notes. This work earned critics’ commendation, marking him one of the few musicians who achieved this prestigious honor from the start. The release of his first album was celebrated on radio and newspapers across Afghanistan as jubilant fans fought for the remaining copies of the best seller.

1970s

Earning such wide renown, Ahmad was quickly introduced to the best of Afghanistan’s music scene by the thrilled recording studios. Working with such veteran mentors as now late saxophonist Ustad Ismail Azami, trumpeter Ustad Nangalai and Abdulla Atamadi Dramest other composers such, Salim Sarmast, Naynawaz, Taranasaz, and Mas'hour Jamal, he had recorded by the late 70s over 22 albums. His songs were noted for their mellifluous tone, poetic style, compelling depth, and passionate emotional evocation. Creating an aesthetic vocabulary in dealing with joy, love, pain, and loneliness in his music that is seen as unparalleled by other Afghan singers. Covering such wide range of subjects, his music had a multi-dimensional lure. Most of this songs were autobiographical.

After 1970, some years he released more than two albums; and by 1973 (1352 of Afghan Calendar), his popularity had developed into a national frenzy. Dominating all the media of Afghanistan, the Ahmad Zahir Subject was the headlines of magazines and radio stations. His concerts became sold-out festivities where fawning fans would jostle in packed concert halls to get a glimpse of the singer.

By the mid 70s, Ahmad Zahir's fame had matured and his popularity spilled over national boundaries. At the formal invitation of Empress Farah (then ruler of Iran), he sang the famous melody "Banu Banu" in her honor which he performed in the Royal Court of Iran. After returning to Afghanistan following his well received Iran tour, Ahmad Zahir was conferred the national Singer of the Year award. In his acceptance speech, he advised aspiring singers that "Ghorur shikast hunari bar mewarad…riqabati hunari bayad sahlim bashad nah hasahdat amiz” (vanity brings failure to artistry…competition in arts needs to be void of envy).

Toward the latter part of 70s, his iconic image transformed to that of a national hero, with his fans celebrating him as Conqueror by Music. In this time period he also became devout patriot as many of his songs from this time period reflect his strong political views.

Political controversy

With the rise of various political factions in the late 70s, Ahmad Zahir became conscious of the socio-political transformation of Afghanistan. Some of his radical songs such as "Zindagi akhir sarayad" conveys the views of a revolutionary artist. His next song "Ilahi man namedanam" played on the radio stirred controversy for its politically provocative lyrics. According to government insiders, the song's verse "Tu padshah-e haft kishwar" drew criticism from the government. The administration assumed Ahmad Zahir had denounced President Daoud Khan who was also minister of numerous cabinet positions. Soon radio stations banned the song due to the political pressure levied by the government.

Then in April 1978, the republic was replaced by dictatorship led by President Taraki and eventually by Hafizullah Amin. In recordings of his upcoming albums, he voiced his protest against the Taraki-Amin regime in at least three songs: "Safar bih roshenahi" and "Chi mulk ra baad" and "Bigzarad bigzarad." In the last song, he referred to Taraki as Tariki (Persian: darkness), making a mockery of the new political leader.

Death

Ahmad Zahir's life came to an end on the morning of June 14, 1979, on his 33rd birthday. Some of his closest friends said that Ahmad Zahir was accompanied by a man and a women when he left Kabul to head to the north of Afghanistan for picnic. Zahir was on the Salang pass highway when reportedly he was involved in an automobile accident that caused his death. However, Ahmad Zahir's body was brought back to Kabul where some reports indicate that he was shot through the head. Those reports say that doctors at the autopsy could not determine the time of death or whether he was shot before or after the accident. To this day, there is no solid agreement as to what exactly caused Ahmad Zahir's death.

Accident theory

While some theorize the windy roads of Salang as the main cause, others cite alcohol as the culprit.

Foul play and conspiracy

A growing body of evidence has suggested possibly foul play. Three sources have been suggested: (1) Taraki-Amin regime henchmen whom he had condemned in his songs; 2) the powerful family of his second wife who were unhappy with his liberal lifestyle; (3) Hafizullah Amin, because his daughter had been spurned by Zahir.

Personal life

Ahmad Zahir married twice . He and his first wife divorced in 1973, at the zenith of his career. Little is known about the reason of this split but it is widely speculated his celebrity status was consuming their marriage. Ahmad Zahir remarried in 1977 and he left behind two children, a son (first marriage) and a daughter from his second marriage) both of whom live in the United States.

Legacy

Ahmad Zahir’s fame has not been compared to any previous singer in Afghanistan’s history, earning him as Afghanistan’s Nightingale title. His status has been unrivaled even 27 years after his death (as of 2006). Posthumously granted the status of a luminary, the renditions of his songs serve to this day as voice and music training lessons for the aspiring singers. As a matter of fact, in performances of other popular Afghan singers, there is always a request for an Ahmad Zahir song. Often others’ voice command is evaluated based on Ahmad Zahir’s standards, a reference point to whom the new singers are measured. He is still celebrated as the most popular Afghan music phenomenon and, for many, the purest embodiment of modern Afghan music.

With over 22 albums (not including the improvised recordings) in less than 15 years, he has more songs to his credit than any other Afghan singer. His albums are still outselling all other Afghan singers both inside and outside Afghanistan. He is widely popular in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikestan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Turkey.

Trivia

File:Azalbumcovery.jpg

Ahmad Zahir on his visit to the Band-e Amir lakes in Bamiyan

• He sampled a number of Italian tunes, a few are from composer Nino Rota including a tune from Fellini's film I Vitelloni
• The majority of his songs are autobiographical
• He was a fan of Sarban whose songs he sampled
• He and his first wife Najia were divorced because of Ahmad Zahir's celebrity status was taking a toll on his personal life and certain gossip of him having affairs with different women.
• One of Ahmad Zahir's noted albums, and some can argue "the best album" in terms of Western musical arrangement, was Ahmad Zahir with The Stars in 1977; it took 16 late nights of recording at the Music Center studios in Kabul (source Azam Parvanata, lead guitarist of The Stars)
• His son was born in Seattle, Washington while he and his wife Najia were on vacation
• He highly admired John Lennon

Discography

Ahmad Zahir completed 14 albums under the Afghan Music label, two albums under Ariana Music, five albums under Music Center, 8 Albums in Radio Afghanistan, and more than 10 privately recorded studio albums through 1965 to 1979.

Afghan Music albums

• Vol. 1 - Dilak am (1967)
• Vol. 2 - Bahar (1967)
• Vol. 3 - Shab ha ye zulmane (1968)
• Vol. 4 - Mother (1969)
• Vol. 5 - Awara (1969)
• Vol. 6 - Ghulam-e Qamar (1970)
• Vol. 7 - Sultan Qalbaam (1970)
• Vol. 8 - Az Ghamat Hy Nazaneen (1971)
• Vol. 9 - Gulbadaan (1971)
• Vol. 10 - Yaare Bewafa (1971)
• Vol. 11 - Lylee (1971)
• Vol. 12 - Ahmad Zahir and Jila (1972)
• Vol. 13 - Ahange Zindagee (1972)
• Vol. 14 - Shab-e Hijraan (1973)

Note: that most of his Afghan Music albums have other songs that should go with the original albums but because of the time and space on audio cassettes a lot of his songs are moved from the original recordings. If people have the original vinyl records then they have all of the songs that should be placed on the albums.

Ariana Music albums

• Vol. 1 - Daard-e Dil (1973)
• Vol. 2 - Mosum-e Gul (1974)

Note: For people who have the original Ariana Music records for Ahmad Zahir, there are many hidden tracks in the original albums.

Music Center albums

• Vol. 1 - Neshe Gashdum (1974)
• Vol. 2 - Ashiq rooyat Mon (1975)
• Vol. 3 - Lylee Jaan (1976)
• Vol. 4 - Ahmad Zahir Ba Sitara Haa (1977)
• Vol. 5 - To Baamanee (completed in 1978 but released in 1979 after his death)

Private albums

• Shamali

Other discography information

• He has over 10 private recording albums from 1965 - 1978
• He only recorded 2 music videos in Radio Kabul TV.
• Laylee Jaan in 1976 and Khuda buwat yarret in 1977
• Ahmad Zahir recorded several songs in Radio Kabul and Radio Afghanistan studios which later on came out as albums. There are now a total of his eight of these albums that have been released.
• It is said that he has several music videos and a concert recorded on video in Iran.
• It is rumored that Ahmad Zahir has a concert and majliss that Radio Kabul had recorded but the Khalq regime destroyed the recordings.

References

• "Muted Musicians See Hope in Young Performers". Afghanistan Online. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "Central Asia in Words and Pictures". Almaty or Bust. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "Review of Anthology of World Music: The Music of Afghanistan". Delusions of Adequacy Reviews. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "Afghan Music Before the War". Mikalina. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• Sakata, Hiromi Lorraine (1983). Music in the Mind: The Concepts of Music and Musician in Afghanistan. Kent State University Press. ISBN 0-87338-265-X.

External links

• Ahmad Zahir World - official fan site
• AhmadZahir.net
• Ahmad Zahir fanclub
• Ahmad Zahir on ArianaMusic.net
• Collection of Ahmad Zahir songs, albums and videos Virtual Afghans
• Listen to complete albums and songs of Ahmad Zahir and videos on eAfghans