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March 03, 2007
Burka Blues
In Afghanistan girls aren't supposed to play music or sing songs. But 25-year-old Nargiz didn't care. She started the Burka Band, the first Afghan girl band ever.
- At first I didn't believe it, when the German producer told me the song was a hit in Germany . It was fantastic, but at the same time, we also worried that somebody in Afghanistan would find out who we were because of all the attention, remembers Nargiz, who estimates that only 10 people in Afghanistan actually know who the faces behind the burkas in the band belong to.
- My mother wears a burka, I must wear a burka too.
We all wear a burka, we don't know who is who.
Blueee, burka blue.
- Of course it was a joke to sing in the burkas, but it was also necessary to wear them. If people in Afghanistan knew who the members of the Burka Band were, we could be attacked or killed because there are still a lot of religious fanatics here, says Nargiz, who hasn't told any of her friends that she has played in the Burka Band.
- I'd like to play again, but right now it is not possible. Last year there was a big bomb at a concert here in Kabul , and lots of people are still against female singers because the religous leaders condemn it. It will probably take 10 years before we will have real girl bands here in Afghanistan , says Nargiz, who now works in an international organisation in Kabul .
Amazing isn't it, that these girls could be put to death for such a thing.
Posted by LindaSoG at March 3, 2007 06:48 PM
Comments
What these young women have to go thru just makes me ill. Especially because back in the early 70's, Afghanistan was pretty damned liberal and the women wore Western clothes and everyone watched Western movies and listened to Western music.
I have worried about my college classmate from Afghanistan ever since the crazy religious people forced women into servitude.
Posted by: Beth at March 3, 2007 07:36 PM
Can there be any doubt that freedom is incompatible with Islam?
Posted by: Rene at March 4, 2007 04:45 PM
They sing in English?
Posted by: DoubleU at March 4, 2007 08:52 PM