Naghma (singer)

This article is about the Afghan singer. For the Indian actress, see Nagma.

Naghma Pashto: نغمه ښاپېرۍ
Naghma singing during the 2010 Nowruz celebration at Fairplex in Pomona, California
Background information
Birth name	Shaperei (Fairy)
Born	(1951-01-01) January 1, 1951 Kandahar Province, Kingdom of Afghanistan
Genres	Folklore, Pop
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Afghan Vision Records Ariana Records
Awards	Pride of Performance

Naghma Shaperai (Pashto: نغمه ښاپېرۍ, born 1 January 1951 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan) is an Afghan singer who started her career in the early 1980s. She sung along her ex-husband, Mangal, during the 1980s and early 1990s. Naghma sings mostly in Pashto, but has also recorded in the Dari Persian language. She is considered to be folklore female artist in Afghanistan and continues to be the voice and face of Pashtun traditional music.

Biography

Naghma was born as Shaperai (Pashto: ښاپېرۍ meaning Head Fairy) on 1 January 1951 in Kandahar Afghanistan, She was the eldest daughter in a family of five boys and three girls. Her father's name was Syed Suleiman Shah and her mother is Bibi Mashala. Her father died when Naghma was five years old. As a young girl, she developed an interest in music. At sixteen she moved to Kabul with her paternal uncle. She continued her secondary education at Rabia Balkhi Lece where she was performing in the girl's band as a vocalist. A year before finishing her high school she married Mangal, an already popular Pashto singer from Laghman Province, and left school to advance her musical career. They were instant celebrities, recording hits that are famous to this day. Her early songs were based on southern Afghan music, most of which were folkloric in nature.

Eventually they settled in Islamabad, Pakistan. There, they became very successful with an enthusiastic crowd of Afghan exiles who were nostalgic for their native music. Their financial situation by this time had improved significantly. In 2000, they left Pakistan and immigrated to the United States.

The couple connected with the Afghan community of Northern California. In 2006 they divorced. Naghma remarried after her divorce to a man from Logar Province.

In March 2014, she became the first Afghan to receive the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and the Pride of Performance, the highest Pakistani Presidential Awards handed to artists, sportsmen, scientists, and writers. It was a proud moment for Naghma who has always been a strong voice for the Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Naghma encourages Afghan refugees to try and go back to Afghanistan through her aid work and music to rebuild the country.

Discography

She has recorded over 500 songs in a period of 32 years in Afghanistan, Pakistan and also in the United States. This list is incomplete

Album: Bachi Hamsaya

• Bachi Hamsaya
• Aros
• O Bacha
• Maida Maida
• Nazi Jan
• Ba Yin Sazi Mahali
• Ghataghani
• Shekesta Chelamey
• Imroz
• Tu Ra Meparastam
• O Dilbar Janim
• O Bacha
• Jama Narinje

Album: Best Of Naghma

• Charsi Halika Stargi
• Janana ke Pashton
• Halka Daroghjan Mee
• Raghlay Yama Damor
• Za Ba Gidi Rawdim
• Chita Che Zi Mat
• Raza Da Zandgi Sra
• Yara Rana Wrak Nashi
• Janana Rasha Da Shamali
• Hagha Sra Oshan
• Allah Wi Zamazda

Album: Kabul Nazaneen

• Salam Afghanistan
• Delbar Jan
• Ghataghani
• Yaram Nest
• Darbigeri
• O Dilbar Janam
• Nazi Jan
• O Bachi Afghan
• Maida Maida Baran
• Em Roz Che Roz Ast

Album: O Khoda Jan

• Az America Wa Alman
• O Khuda Jan
• Sharshara Baran
• Shab Amadam
• Bebe Roko Jan
• Kashki Ma
• Man Dokhtari Sherazam
• Mara Az Ashiqi Bas
• Mohabat
• Pesta Forosh

Popular Singles:

• Mazdigar De Ka Nade
• O Bacha Jane Bacha
• Lalaya Hawa Baza
• Kandahar Halika
• Adam Khana Charsi
• Mohabbat
• Mohabbat (Slow Version)
• Lalo Lalo
• Mala Chal Ne Razi
• Akh Janan Me Laro
• Zma Afghanistana
• Loya Khudaya
• Orbal Chapa Kra Bya Rasta
• Akhshe na ni na (Attan De Gada Da)
• Mubarak Di Sha Akhtar
• Lalai de
• Dilbar Zalim Zalim
• Wa Grana
• Nor e Newranawo
• Ay Da Watan Da Abay Roka Zoya
• Afghani Mashoma

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide To The Music Of Afghanistan, 2010