Sakhi in Herat, Afghanistan, continues to create rubabs, the national instrument of Afghanistan, even with the Taliban regime that had outlawed music throughout Afghanistan. Despite the hardships and increasing restrictions, these musicians and craftsmen are eager to protect the beautiful culture of Afghanistan. The survival of Afghan artisans, especially in keeping their traditional music alive, stands as a testament to this importance of cultural identity.
The Rubab: A Cultural Icon
The rubab is a lute-like instrument made from dried mulberry wood, usually inlaid with intricate mother-of-pearl designs. It is one of the oldest instruments in the region, with a history that stretches back thousands of years. Its resonating twang is integral to Afghan music, and it holds great cultural significance, not just for the people of Afghanistan, but also for Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In December 2024, UNESCO enlisted the art of rubab crafting and playing as an element of intangible cultural heritage, acknowledging the region’s history as well as its importance to the regional culture.
Crackdown on Music by the Taliban
Since the return of the Taliban in 2021, they have imposed strict bans on music. Since then, all types of public performances of music have been banned, and playing it in cars, restaurants, or even playing it on the radio or television has been prohibited. This has resulted in the closing of music schools, the destruction of instruments, and a general choking of the music scene around Afghanistan. Musicians had little chance to hone their craft, and many have left or been forced to leave because of such repressive policies.
The Art of the Rubab: An Act of Defiance
These restrictions aside, craftsmen such as Sakhi continue to build the rubabs, turning out around two a month. Sakhi elaborated his point of view stating it was not just that these were a means for his daily life to work for his family but they provided some type of legacy for Afghan cultural heritage. He said this “The heritage tied up to the rubab shall never be lost.”. In his Herat workshop, which is chockablock with rubabs of various completions, sits the witness to Afghanistan’s glorious music.
So does Gull Agha, for example. “Rubab is in me. Its time to disappear. How long it may last nobody can predict”, he said during a one-on-one meeting in which he even allowed playing for the rubab from a long distance due to their inability to draw nearer for security concerns. For him, playing the rubab is a way to keep the country’s cultural traditions alive, a sentiment shared by many Afghan musicians who refuse to let their music be silenced.
Resistance Through Music: The Role of Afghan Musicians
For many Afghan musicians, playing music is no longer a pursuit of wealth but a form of resistance and a way to contribute to their country’s cultural survival. Once upon a time, musicians were very much a part of Afghan life, playing at weddings, festivals, and other social gatherings. However, the Taliban’s crackdown has silenced a lot of this vibrancy. Musicians like Majid, who once performed regularly in Kabul, have had to go into hiding to avoid persecution. However, Majid is preserving his rubab for that next day like anyone else has vowed not to lose tradition due to any political situation.
Afghan Future Musicians
Unlike others of many Afghan, where musician flee from their own country and they may either listen by themselves or practice among such people due to no legal means. Their hope is to keep Afghan music alive, not for financial gain, but to preserve a vital piece of the country’s heritage. In some cases, musicians inside and outside Afghanistan have been working together to ensure that traditional music and the art of crafting instruments like the rubab are passed down to future generations.
The future of rubab and Afghan music has been uncertain since the hold of the Taliban over the country remains firm. There is, however, promise in the passion and struggle of musicians and artisans such as Sakhi and Gull Agha for Afghanistan’s vast musical heritage to be rescued even under the worst conceivable conditions.
The struggle to save Afghan music, especially the rubab, under the Taliban ban on public music reflects the strength of the Afghan spirit and their love for heritage. The Taliban’s decisions are a threat to the survival of this art, but the will of Afghan musicians and artisans guarantees that the rubab will not be silenced into oblivion. Central to Afghan culture is the craft and the music, and it was believed that no power will ever be able to destroy forever the country’s music tradition.