‘Afghanistan is not just about the Taliban': Refugee artists in Delhi use music to heal and preserve their culture

Indian Express

03-07-2025

As Afghanistan sees a surprising uptick in tourism despite years of conflict, thousands of miles away in New Delhi, it is the ache of displacement and 'desire for homeland' that unites Afghan refugees. On World Refugee Day, June 21, this shared sense of nostalgia and resilience brought together hundreds of people from Afghan, Iranian, Burmese and other refugee communities at Alliance Française for an evening of music and memory.
While artists from various countries performed across genres, it was Salaam, a band of Afghan refugee musicians, that left the audience spellbound with their soulful qawwalis. Singing legendary Afghan artist Farhad Darya's songs and weaving in traditional folklore, the band channelled a powerful message of peace. The audience nodded along, clapped in rhythm, and many felt a rare moment of 'home'.
In an interaction with indianexpress.com, members of the band spoke about their artistic journey, how they make music a tool to heal minds and spread the word about Afghanistan.
The band was founded in 2013 by Ahmad Haidar Hadis, who previously launched another group, Yuva Beats, in 2010. Hadis, who started his musical journey as a teenager in Pakistan, has over 20 years of experience in music. He sought refuge in India in 2009. Over the years, he has worked with Afghan television and was a member of the prominent Afghan band Nawa.
'There was no platform for refugee musicians in India,' Hadis said. 'That's why I started Salaam. We wanted a space where we could preserve our music, our language, our heritage.'
The band's manager, Athena, recounted the group's early days. She said most people who stumbled upon them wanted to ask about the Taliban, how they operate, and the 'situation' back home. 'Afghanistan is not just about the Taliban; we wanted to paint a picture of our people living there. We want to depict our culture before the world – the land is not just about war but many other things,' she said.
Athena shared that the band's members fled Afghanistan over the years due to instability and lack of artistic freedom. 'Even during the US intervention, artists were not safe. India was a natural destination because of its friendly ties with Afghanistan and the relative ease of obtaining visas and refugee documentation,' she said.
Maasih Jafari, the band's guitarist, said music remains a contested subject in Afghanistan. 'In some areas it's legal, in others it's considered haram, depending on the region's cultural and religious leanings,' he said.
Jafari, a self-taught musician, began playing in 2018 and joined Salaam in 2023. He draws from a range of influences, including Hairat, Iranian folk music, and Farhad Darya's work. 'We don't just need peace for Afghanistan, we need it for the whole world,' he said.
Remembering the days of displacement and seeking asylum, guitarist Badnashare said, 'You go through turbulent emotions, and it's a difficult experience. The songs you create will resonate with it. Our music shows vital parts of the friendship between Afghanistan and India.'
Madiha Hasiq, the band's lead singer, said, 'All our songs are related to our homeland, and music is how we stay connected to Afghanistan.'
From embassies to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) events and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) cultural festivals, Salaam has found its rhythm in India's diverse music scene. The band sees music not just as performance, but as survival, as a form of emotional release, a way to tell their stories.