在这饱受战争摧残的阿富汗土地上终于能够再次感受到阔别已久的摇滚音乐的存在。这个国家的第一间摇滚音乐学校为阿富汗青年们提供了平台,使他们将创造力和精力投入到音乐当中。
It's been 16 years since Taliban's rule ended in Afghanistan and rock and roll is starting to make its presence felt in the war-torn land. The country's first rock music school is helping Afghan's youth to channel their creativity and energy into music.
Housed in the capital's "Venue" restaurant, Kabul's rock music school is a symbol of the social and individual freedoms that have returned since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. The Taliban's extreme interpretation of Islam banned cinema, TV and most music, except those rooted in religion. It also forbade women and girls from working or studying.
Even now, 16 years since Taliban rule ended Afghanistan's young rock musicians are sometimes forced to wear masks when performing to avoid being attacked by religious conservatives. The school has attracted around 20 students, including a handful of girls, seeking refuge in the world of rock.
This 16-year-old high school student is learning to play guitar. She attends the school along with her 20-year-old sister, who is learning to play the drums.
Sahar Fetrat, rock and roll class student, said, "It will take time for people in Afghanistan to accept and allow women to learn music. I always wanted to learn how to play rock music and tried to learn in other courses. But they were taught by men and it was all male students, so they used to harass us."
Nearly three hundred people, Afghans and foreigners alike, attended a rock concert at a French cultural house in the capital to listen to Afghanistan's first heavy metal band, "District Unknown". The crowd, made up of both men and women, were certainly into the music. For some concert-goers, it's a way to leave your worries at the door.
Darwaish Khan, Afghan concert goer, said, "Rock music is an emotional music. When I listen to this music I forget all of my sorrows because rock has a friendly atmosphere and it is very nice."
The acceptance of rock in Kabul has seen the "Rock in Kabul" festival expand to six concerts a year, with as many as 450 people turning out to every event. At first only 10 percent were locals, but now half the attendees are Afghans.