Music for Social Change
Since its inception, ANIM has amplified its musical voice to address various important national and social issues, particularly those related to children’s and women’s rights, through commissioned music that has been widely broadcast throughout Afghanistan. The music videos selected below are campaigns in confronting social issues through music.
Ay Sarbaza Yara “My Beloved Soldier”
Ay Sarbaza Yara and Pa Meen De Watan are newly released patriotic songs by the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. Through these songs, we boldly stand with the Afghan people, the progressive forces, and brave men and women of the Afghanistan security forces who are standing to preserve the rights and gains of Afghanistan during the past twenty years.
Pa Meen De Watan “For the Love of Country”
In Gham-e-be Haya
Young musicians in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland united to produce a collaborative version of ‘In Gham-e-be Haya,’ meaning Audacious Sorrow, composed by Ustad Salim Sarmast. This song is part of a social action program building relations between young musicians in Northern Ireland and Afghan Women’s Orchestra led by Beyond Skin and Afghanistan National Institute of Music. The project is supported by WOMAD Foundation, Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund, Factor Law, Community Relations Council, and Natali Márquez Foundation. Read the press release here.
Dawn
On the occasion of International Women’s Day on 7th March 2021, the Afghanistan National Institute of Music is proud to premiere “Dawn”, an original composition for cello and orchestra composed by talented Grade 10 cello student, Meena Karimi, and arranged for orchestra by Grade 12 piano student and conductor, Arson Fahim. This beautiful work is dedicated to the women of Afghanistan, and represents their struggle for justice, equality, and freedom with the hope that comes with a new dawn.