Spiegel: Aryana Sayeed, 33, is the only internationally known pop act in Afghanistan. She is adored by youth — and hunted by the Taliban. / Sayeed: “The extremists play with the sexual frustration of young men. On the streets of Afghanistan, 99 percent of the passersby are men. When a woman in burka walks down the
Tolo News: Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat has won this year’s Interfilm Academy’s One Future Prize at the 36th international Munich Film Festival (Filmfest Munchen) for her movie “A Letter to the President”. The award ceremony was held on Saturday in Munich. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: Thousands of music fans cheered their favorite musicians and singers at a music festival in Bamiyan province on Friday. The festival will continue for two days. Organizers of the event said the festival is aimed at strengthening tourism and supporting Afghanistan’s ancient culture. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: Afghan singer and musician Aryana Sayeed was on Saturday night honored with an Atlantic Council 2018 Freedom Award at a gala event in Berlin. Aryana, who defied a Taliban fatwa and performed for more than 3,000 people in Kabul last August, dedicated her award to two recent victims of gender violence in Afghanistan and
Tolo News: The 2018 Polar Music Prize has been awarded to the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) and Dr Ahmad Sarmast, its founder and director, in recognition of how this inspirational organization has used the power of music to transform young people’s lives. The king of Sweden on Thursday night handed over the award to the
The Washington Post: Shabake Khanda, or Laughter Network, the wildly successful Afghan version of Saturday Night Live, is watched by millions once a week, with reruns airing twice more during the week. No one, not powerful politicians, corrupt bureaucrats, even President Ashraf Ghani, is spared its skewering. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: Mustafa Hunarjoo, from Balkh province, on Wednesday night scooped this year’s Afghan Start title after beating fellow finalist Mansoor Jalaal in the final round of the annual competition. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama Press: A group of unknown individuals recently shared a video of [Ibrahim] Abid as he is seen under heavy influence of drugs with the perpetrators claiming that the artist has used alcohol. Social media users have started a widespread hashtag campaign online in support of Abid as they condemn the act. Click here to read
Khaama Press: Directed by Nora Twomey, the animated film (The Breadwinner) depicts the life of a 11-year-old Afghan girl Parvana who lives under the Taliban rule in war-torn Kabul. The film shows the challenges the young girl faces after her father is arrested wrongfully, leaving her and her family without a way to make any money.