A celebrity of enduring popularity almost three
decades after his death, Ahmad Zahir is considered as a legend and an
icon of Afghan music. Born on June 14, 1946, he was the son of late Dr.
Abdul Zahir (born 1910, in Laghman), who was an influential Afghan
politician and a one time Afghan Prime Minister (1971-1972) during the
reign of King Zahir Shah.
Ahmad Zahir attended Habibia High School in the early
1960s and his interest in music developed during this period where he
often sang in his school concerts, accompanied by his band that was made
up of mainly his friends and classmates: Nabil Miskinyar on drums, Omar
Sultan on guitar, Farid Zaland on congas and Kabir Howaida on piano, as
well as other talented musicians who would accompany him from time to
time. He himself would mainly play the accordion as he sang. In one
particular concert, during his school days, he sang so beautifully that
his schoolmates declared him “Bulbul-e Habibia”. The band, which later
became known as the Amateur Band of Habibia High School, gained
popularity with their performances in local concerts during celebratory
occasions such as Nouroz, Eid, and Afghan Independence Day.
After his graduation from high school he attended and
graduated from Darul Malimeen (Teachers’ College) in Kabul. He
continued his higher education for two more years in India to get his
degree as an English instructor. But his true calling, of course, was to
sing. With the approval and encouragement of his family he was able to
pursue his true love of music. Rising from the acclaim of the band,
Ahmad Zahir branched onto his solo career. Carrying his musical
instincts to new heights, he began composing songs based on
well-recognized Dari poems. 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. His first recorded song,
gar kuni yak nizara, was also his own composition, sung in the pilo
raga, which he had not been taught by anyone at that time. With this
song he proved his God-given talent and true genius, at an early age,
which the Almighty blessed him with. He continued composing and
recording his future songs such as azeezam ba yaadat, ahista-ahista,
akhir ay darya, hama yaranam, agar sabza boodam, guftam ke mekhwaham
tura, shabe ze shabha, parween-e man and many more.
After a couple of years Ahmad Zahir married
and his first and only son, Rishad was born. By this time he had already
decided that he was simply not made for teaching, but that music was
his true destiny. Besides teaching and his musical interests, at that
time, he also held a job at Kabul Times as a journalist. But by this
time his popularity had reached such a height that it was pretty clear
to him and his family that he was born to sing. Unfortunately, as his
popularity grew, his marriage was starting to fail and it resulted in a
divorce.
Later on, he married his second wife, from
whom he was expecting his second child. He had chosen the name Shabnam
should it be a girl. By this stage in his life he was on top of the
world. He had already been chosen singer of the year several times and
he had recorded over 19 albums, each containing 12-16 new songs. Aside
from his albums, he also had many hits on the national radio, not to
mention a vast collection of his wonderful majlisi recordings. But his
voice recordings were not the only means through which his vast pool of
fans was able to listen to his enchanting voice. He also organized huge
concerts in Kabul and other major cities of Afghanistan, leaving the
most memorable impressions in the hearts of his fans. Throughout this
adventurous journey of his life, he was able to make many friends and
countless fans because of his great charisma, charm, and friendly
personality.
With the changes in the political landscape of
Afghanistan, Ahmad Zahir became conscious of the socio-political
transformation of his homeland. He adjusted his tone and the contents of
his music to reflect his feelings through his songs, such as zindagi
akhir sar Ayed, bigzarad bigzarard, and safar bee roshenAyee. Such
songs, which carried revolutionary lyrics and reflected the feelings of a
patriotic artist, stirred enough controversy in the political realms,
which would later cost him his life.
On his 33h birthday (June 14, 1979) he was
assassinated by the order of a communist general named Daud Taroon who
used one of Ahmad Zahir’s best friends as an accomplice to carry out his
orders. Taroon was not only an envious and jealous enemy of Ahmad
Zahir, but also because Ahmad Zahir’s political stance was at odds with
the communist government of the time. Sadly, his precious Shabnam, whom
he was eagerly looking forward to, would come into the world on the same
day of his passing.
More than a quarter of a century after his
death, his popularity remains strong among his fans. Many Afghans truly
love him from the heart, whether it is the younger generation, born
outside of Afghanistan, who can barely understand the lyrics of his
music; or those who grew up during the heydays of Ahmad Zahir; or those
who saw him live in-concert and in person; or whether it is the much
older generation who are now more understanding and appreciative of his
legendary work. Ahmad Zahir will continue to live in the hearts of his
fans.
In the past 28 years, many talented artists
and musicians have come and gone, but Ahmad Zahir’s voice, talent, fame,
and charisma, has remained unrivaled. He remains a source of
inspiration for new and aspiring artists and has rightfully earned the
title of Afghanistan’s Nightingale. His legacy as the most celebrated
musical phenomenon in Afghanistan and the embodiment of modern Afghan
music goes on.
May Allah bless his martyred soul!
