ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the politics of Afghan music and gives some insight into the state of Afghan music. It shows how music has always been the mainstay of Afghan culture, and as such, used to express cultural values that revolve around political issues of identity, gender, representation, authenticity, and religion. The banning of music was one of four signature mandates associated with Afghanistan under the Taliban, the remaining three being the veiling of women, the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, and the mandating of men's beards. Military music accompanied soldiers into battle; court musicians represented the splendor and power of the royal courts, and state-owned radio musicians reflected the modern tastes of government bureaucrats and urban elites. In the 1970s, Ahmad Zahir, known as the 'Afghan Elvis', his music and songs contained political commentary, used Western accompanying instruments, and set the standard for a popular style that many young Afghan musicians, both inside and outside of Afghanistan, emulated.
