Feature: Afghans grooving to a new beat in post-Taliban era

The city of Kabul is beginning to collectively move to a rhythm once thought impossible just over a decade ago when Afghanistan was under Taliban rule, as shops selling a variety of local and foreign music cater to a growing number of music fans and roadside billboards showcase the latest singers that are now entertaining the nation.

Youngsters in Afghanistan in particular, in twine with rising educational standards, are increasingly enjoying and promoting the latest music trends -- the artists of which are helping to sing away the memories of a region once ravaged by conflict and divided by hostility.

Many of the nation's singers are committed to utilizing their talents to spread messages of hope and peace and, in general, bring a modicum of happiness where they can to a nation so deeply scared by warfare.

"In addition to earning money and improving my living situation, using my voice to put smiles on the faces of our people is very much a priority for me," singer Shakir Sarod, 23, told Xinhua.

Sitting in his small music shop while sipping tea, Sarod said he can earn between 90 and 200 U.S. dollars per live performance, depending on the type of gig.

"If it is a wedding party held in a restaurant or wedding hall that last four or five hours, I would typically charge about 160 U. S. dollars," Sarod said, adding that he would charge slightly less for a private party.

"But of course, entertaining my audience and ensuring they have a good time is equally, if not more important than the financial incentives," Sarod, said.

Afghans living in cities usually arrange their wedding parties in luxury restaurants and wedding halls and invite hundreds of relatives and friends from both sides of the families being united. The lavish affairs include fine cuisine and the music, such as Sarod's, is expected to live up to high expectations.

Such expectations are raised when the singers are older, with senior musicians commanding fees that can be as much as three or four times higher than those of their junior counterparts, said Sarod.

Veteran singer Parwiz told Xinhua that he would charge as much as 350 U.S. dollars for a wedding party, noting that the fee commensurates with ability and recognition, but, as with Sarod, underscoring the importance of providing happiness through music, something that just a few years ago would have seemed impossible.

Celebrities and renowned singers like Daud Hanif and Nazir Khara can pocket even more per night, if invited to perform at prestigious wedding parties, as the standard of music generally has leapt in post-Taliban Afghanistan.

The Taliban outfit during its reign that ended in late 2001, had banned music, cinema and other forms of entertainment taken for granted by many in the world, and singers and music store owners like Sarod would simply not exist -- neither would the joy they bring to modern-day Afghanistan.

This is in stark contrast to Afghanistan today, where music can be heard blaring through speakers from more-or-less every street corner, much to the delight of the public and, of course, the performers who can now express their creativity and earn a decent living at the same time, and the store owners who sell both local and foreign music.

Afghanistan nowadays also regularly sees concerts of all musical genres, including rock, pop, classical, rap and folk songs, held to the delight of the public, and, state-run music schools like the Kabul Music Institute, is busy grooming the next- generation of performers to hit the stages, or possibly star in the hit Sitara-e-Afghan or Afghan Star series -- the equivalent of the popular "American Idol" reality TV show.

Singers like Shukib Isar, Sakhi Hamidzada and Mustafa Sufi and dozens of others comprise a new generation of singers that are winning the hearts of the judges on the shows, and their musical delights are inspiring their fellow countrymen who are enjoying the catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics as much as the singers are enjoying performing them. Endi