Write a commentAn incredible music collaboration between young musicians in Afghanistan and Ireland has seen an incredible video put together, with musicians from the Traditional Arts Partnership in South Armagh joining up with the Afghan National Institute of Music and the Zohra Ensemble (Afghan Womens Orchestra). The beautiful tune comes to life with the music drifting backwards and forwards between Afghanistan and here with incredible talent displayed by the young participants.
It came about as a result of an international partnership developed by Beyond Skin and Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), home of the Afghan Women’s Orchestra also known as Ensemble Zohra.
Explaining how much she enjoyed the experience young Traditional Arts Partnership musician Lucy Qua said “it was such an amazing experience and being a part of something so international and seeing the end result was a proud moment”
As part of the programme current and former students from ANIM colloborated with young female musicians in Northern Ireland leading eventually to Afghan Women’s Orchestra coming to Northern Ireland for a series of performances.
The programme was firstly given start a up investment from the WOMAD Foundation with support for specific projects within the programme from Arts Council Northern Ireland, Community Relations Council, Factor Law and individual donors. To date the associate organisations/companies in the consortium include Yallaa, Unique New Adventure Ltd, Traditional Arts Partnership and 3FortyFive Films.
The collaborative music video was premiered as part of the online One World Festival earlier this month.
The Director of Afghanistan National Institute of Music Dr Ahmad Sarmast hopes it will highlight awareness of the potentially difficult future for music in Afghanistan. Dr Sarmast said “This collaboration between young musicians from Afghanistan and Northern Ireland, in a time that peace talks on Afghanistan is well underway and it might lead to the return of the Taliban back to power, is significant in rising awareness about the future of music in Afghanistan, given the past draconian policies of the Taliban against music . Taliban did not only violate the musical rights of the Afghan people, but banned music entirely and the people of Afghanistan were not allowed to listen, learn or play music”
Elaine O'Sulivan from TAP said "Traditional Arts Partnership are delighted to be part of the musical collaboration with The Afghan Women’s Orchestra. Musically it was a challenge to learn a different style of music but our musicians embraced the challenge as they do with everything. On a humanitarian level our musicians got to experience what life is like for these musicians - they have been prohibited from playing music for too long. It was a wonderful opportunity to unite with these girls through our mutual love of music."
Kenny Qua who helped with recording has learned so much from the project "Personally it was a great opportunity to collaborate with a seasoned composer and a top notch technical team from whom I have learned much. It was also an opportunity to explore and enjoy the music and rhythms of Afghanistan, and learn more of their fascinating culture first hand through those who live there."
Another TAPS musician Claire Casey added "At the start I thought it was a bit strange putting two different music cultures together but whenever I got to learn the tune and play the music I enjoyed it and it was the collaboration of musicians of working together that simply added to it'
This exciting colloboration will most likely lead to stronger connections between both countries in years to come.
Watch the video below.
