Music and Women in Afghanistan and Central Asia: An Interview with Razia Sultanova

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing presentation of the world that is otherwise unknown to the readers.
I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the real, own-voices representation of the hidden world.

NetGalley, AREVIK HEBOYAN

Interesting to read. Hard to imagine this life. Very well written and flows well. Different way of life to what women experience here in the western world

NetGalley, Lisa Houston

Uzbek musicologist and cultural anthropologist Razia Sultanova said that before the Taliban, there were Uzbek songs sung on marriages by mothers and grandmothers and little girls which meant there was knowledge transmission from one generation to another.

She termed it very important for the Afghan culture to have this process going but they were not allowed to do it now. “Music transcends language and culture and time and just listening to these songs and performances show the reach of culture of Afghanistan. We can ask the question what’s future of this heritage. Will it survive or not under the very difficult and draconian rule of the current government.”

read the full article here.

DAWN magazine

Brought up in Uzbekistan, Sultanova has known the music of Central Asia all her life. She herself is an excellent singer and doutar player. During the last twenty years she has made many long research trips to Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. Few, if any, writers are endowed with such a sensitive understanding of this world.
5/5 stars

Amazon reviewer

In her most recent book, Dr. Razia Sultanova discusses the roles and types of music in Afghanistan following the second rise of the Taliban in 2021. Sultanova details a variety of types of music from northern Afghanistan gathered from her research and trips. She also described the works, lives, and songs of famous Afghani female singers, highlighting the role of women in the creation of art and culture in Afghanistan against the desires of Taliban-2. Each chapter has a specific focus, from popular culture in Afghanistan to Northern Afghan musical instruments, and Sultanova brings her expertise into her discussion of Afghan women’s role in the creation of art and culture. Each chapter, though having a distinct focus, ties into Sultanova’s overarching topic about the intrinsic value of women to national art and culture. Sultanova even interviews Afghan singer Elaha Soroor about the challenges of being such a prominent public figure in a culture where women are discouraged from being in the public eye. Sultanova’s division of the topic into manageable chapters, each with a specific focus, allows the reader to explore and understand multiple facets of music and gender in Afghanistan.

NetGalley, Lily Amidon

Afghanistan Dispossessed is a serious book about Afghanistan post the war. Dr. Raza Sultanova painstakingly researched and addressed what survived of Afghan culture - primarily music.
Dr. Sultanova includes personal information including what prompted this story. There was very little information about the Soviet invasion when she lived in Russia and she was surprised how mislead she was by the news. As a musicologist, she let her own training lead her in her research. This is a very interesting and sobering look at a land which is still under fire from the Taliban.

NetGalley, Andrea Dinan