Ahmad Zahir (Pashto/Dari: ; 14 June 1946 – 14 June 1979) was an Afghan singer, songwriter and composer. Dubbed the "Elvis of Afghanistan", he is widely considered the all-time greatest singer of Afghanistan. The majority of his songs were in Dari followed by Pashto, with a few in Russian, Hindi and English.

Zahir recorded at least 14 studio albums before his abrupt death on his 33rd birthday in 1979. His music blended folk music, Persian literature, Indian classical music and Western pop and rock styles. He has also become an icon of peacetime pre-war Afghanistan.

Early years

Ahmad Zahir was born on 14 June 1946 (Jauza 24, 1325 of the Jalali calendar) in Kabul, Afghanistan, to an ethnic Pashtun family from Laghman Province. His father, Abdul Zahir, was a royal court doctor who served as Minister of Health followed by Prime Minister of Afghanistan between 1971 and 1972. He was a speaker of the parliament and an influential figure in King Zahir Shah's era who helped write the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan. Ahmad Zahir had an older sister, Zahira Zahir, who would later be known as the hairdresser of U.S. President Ronald Reagan and others.

Career

Zahir attended Habibia High School in Kabul and formed "the amateur band of Habibia High School" including Omar Sultan on guitar, Farid Zaland on congas, and Akbar Nayab on piano. Zahir played the accordion and sang. They performed locally during public holidays such as Nowruz, Eid ul-Fitr and Afghan Independence Day. Zahir gained considerable popularity in Kabul as a talented singer with a soulful voice. His baritone chest voice and evocative singing gave him the title of "Bulbul-e Habibya", or "the Nightingale of Habibia".

He attended and graduated from the Daru'l-Malimeen (Teachers' College) in Kabul, and studied for two years in India to get a degree as an English instructor. After his return from India, Zahir got a job as a journalist for The Kabul Times, but soon began work on his first album. He worked closely with Afghan composers Nainawaz and Taranasaz. His first recorded song, Gar Kuni Yak Nizara, was his own composition, blending Indian raga with western pop rhythms. which would make Morgan's version a cover, and some (mostly based on a previous version of this article) date it to 1977, reversing the relationship.

Because of his musical family background, Zahir helped to establish music as a more respected profession which in turn led to the founding of The Kabul Music School in 1974.

Following the Saur Revolution, Zahir criticized the leaders of the new communist regime in three songs in resistance to their oppression, modelling himself after one of his heroes, John Lennon, who used rock music for anti-war resistance in the west. and even some of the greats of the west Enrico Macias, Elvis Presley. This versatility and willingness to adopt musical creations of others for his own performance, greatly enhanced the merit of his own musical creations.

Assassination

Ahmad Zahir was assassinated by unknown gunman from the top of a mountain on 14 June 1979, on his 33rd birthday. It was reported in the media that he was killed in a car accident around the Salang Tunnel, but some claim he was assassinated because his political stance was at odds with the Marxist government of the time; supposedly he was lured out the city by a close friend and two female accomplices and subsequently murdered. A large crowd of mourners attended Zahir's funeral in Kabul, clogging the city streets and bringing daily activities to a halt. His tomb was destroyed by members of the Taliban in the late 1990s, but was later rebuilt by loving fans. It was renovated as recently as 2018 by fans who have established a foundation in his name in hopes of continuing his legacy.

His songs "Khuda Buwad Yaret", "Asman Khalist", "Agar Bahar Beyayad", "Laili Laili Jan", "Chashme Siya Dari", "Zim Zim (Kajaki Abroyet)" and many others, are known by the vast majority of Afghans. They are ranked as some of the greatest songs created in Afghanistan's musical history.

Zahir was listed as one of 50 golden voices in history who have made their mark internationally, according to National Public Radio (NPR).

The Academy Award–nominated American film director Sam French was selected in 2018 to direct a documentary film about Zahir's life.

Discography

Afghan music albums

  • Vol. 1 – Dilak am (1973)
  • Vol. 2 – Bahar (1973)
  • Vol. 3 – Shab ha ye zulmane (1974)
  • Vol. 4 – Mother (1974)
  • Vol. 5 – Awara (1975)
  • Vol. 6 – Ghulam-e Qamar (1975)
  • Vol. 7 – Sultan Qalbaam (1976)
  • Vol. 8 – Az Ghamat Hy Nazaneen (1976)
  • Vol. 9 – Gulbadaan (1971)
  • Vol. 10 – Yaare Bewafa (1977)
  • Vol. 11 – Lylee (1977)
  • Vol. 12 – Ahmad Zahir and Jila (1978)
  • Vol. 13 – Ahange Zindagee (1978)
  • Vol. 14 – Shab-e Hijraan (1979) (posthumous release)

Note: Audio cassette versions of many of Zahir's Afghan Music albums are missing some songs that are present on the original vinyl records.

Ariana music albums

  • Vol. 1 – Daard-e Dil (1972)
  • Vol. 2 – Mosum-e Gul (1977)

Note: The original Ariana Music record albums contain many hidden tracks.

Music center albums

  • Vol. 1 – Ashiq rooyat Mon (1973)
  • Vol. 2 – Neshe Gashdum (1976)
  • Vol. 3 – Lylee Jaan (1977)
  • Vol. 4 – Ahmad Zahir Ba Sitara Haa (1977)
  • Vol. 5 – To Baamanee (1978)

Other discography information

  • He only recorded 2 music videos on Radio Kabul TV: "Laylee Jaan" in 1976 and "Khuda Buwat Yarret" in 1977.
  • Zahir recorded several songs in Radio Kabul and Radio Afghanistan studios which later came out as albums. Eight of these albums have been released.

See also

  • List of Afghan singers
  • Music of Afghanistan

References

  • Ahmad Zahir all albums, songs on SoundCloud
  • SoundCloud.com/AhmadZaher
  • Ahmad Zahir – the documentary film
  • "Afghan Elvis" segment on Radiolab