We had some friends over for dinner recently and the discussion had included how some Norwegians felt about immigrants from Syria and Afghanistan (e.g., “My son’s school in Oslo is already 80 percent Muslim; when he was younger he would be sad because he wanted to play with some of these kids and they responded that their parents had forbidden them to play with Norwegians and/or Christians.”). I tried to find some background music to fit the topic but there doesn’t seem to an Internet radio station dedicated to whatever music these folks might be listening to as they settle into their new European homes.
Readers: Who are the great musicians of Syria, Afghanistan, and this migration? Where can their music be heard?
I had a problem like this a few years ago. I always throw a party around Christmas, and we sing lots of good Christmas music, and some good Hannukah music, and that year, Ramadan was in December, so I thought we should sing Ramadan music, but I couldn’t find any.
Acc. to latest figures on the news, the current border-breaching migration wave is only to smaller degree of Syrian refugees (but then mainly from Turkish camps where they’ve tired of living in limbo with no prospects of being permitted to work, thus ever integrate themselves into the society); while the majority is made up of economic migrants of various South European, Afghani, and Eritrean origin who see an opportunity to rejoin their cousins, etc., already in Germany, Scandinavia (not a few of whom will end up being refused asylum, and/or deported, no matter what various politicians now keep saying; all the Baltic & Central Euro states north of Austria, + Slovenia & Croatia, now employ stringent identity status controls).
Subsequently, this is not some homogenous influx, nor is it predominantly made up of teenagers where A-list earworms might be the great leveler. Hence asking for their taste in music (as one might ask an European teen) is somewhat misplaced. In most Oriental cultures there are local “Madonna-manques,” and other one-hit wonders. I’ve heard that plenty of well-known young Arab singers come from Israel where they’re free to refine their craft till perfection, but that could’ve been a self-serving embellishment of the factual.
Arab, and many flavors of Asian, music rely on non-traditional scales and timbre that sound atonal to casual Western listeners. That said, here are 2 famous long-dead performers revered all over the Arab world & Africa: Umm Kulthum (traditional Levant & Egyptian wailing songs, said to have put entire theater audiences in trance); and Fela Kuti, father of the Nigerian “wall of sound,” also begetter of a music dynasty. I hear that in many relatively peaceful African communities (rather than countries), there are vigorous native music remixing etc disco & FM radio enterprises, but their output is hard to find via ordinary channels (your corner bodega might have a back room full of rental DVDs though. Expect to be taken for a narc ;-))
Very occasionally Euro TV reports of a famous young Middle-Eastern, Central Asian, or Indian diva (thus far no Sri Lankese, or Thai), usually in connection with some local scandal or other (like an Afghani soap opera actress/ singer risking her life by appearing on stage with a full mane of hair), but they’re covered for the sensation, not for their talents. Most of those upcoming artists may be found on youtube, however.
Try this:
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Society_of_Sound/Society_of_Sound/Music/Syriana-A-Life-In-Film.html
I highly recommend the B&W Society of Sound, the recordings are top-notch and the yearly fee very reasonable.
Most of Afghans watch Indian Movies and music.
but they do have pashto radio, even bbc and voa have radio services.
There is probably Dari. probably even Iranian music.
Three of greatest Indian actors were originally from Peshawar.
One of the most beautiful actress in Bollywood was Afghan
named Madhubala.
You can always look up in Youtube for Pashto and Dari music.
Smithsonian Folkways publishes a wide variety of traditional, ethnic music: http://www.folkways.si.edu/search?query=Afghanistan or http://www.folkways.si.edu/search?query=Syria and so on.
I like WFMU’s Transpacific Sound Paradise radio show: http://wfmu.org/playlists/TP. If you’re not around NYC, you can stream or download (recent) shows. Clearly each episode is a mix so you might have to hunt for a thematic show on Syria/Afghanistan.
A favorite of Afghan Tajiks, and antidote to Joe’s submission 🙂
Like everyone else, the migrants need music to help escape the drudgery of life. This can help heal the mindset that has been been so tattered. Go to
pauldresser.net checkout- “In The Eye of Horus” (it’s free)
Paul Dresser