Kindness that Embraces
Homesick and unable to return home due to political conditions in Afghanistan, Shir Afzal did not have much to turn to when he first landed in Indonesia. After arriving as a refugee, he was alone and unsure about his future.
Slowly, he found community at the Roshan Learning Center and comfort in watching his friends play music. Inspired, he asked himself, “Could I even take up an instrument? If I did, what about the Dambora?” He recalled that one of his favourite singers in Afghanistan played that guitar-like instrument.
In 2016, Hanif and Shir Afzal went to a concert in Jakarta and were delighted to meet an Indonesian singer, Agus Prattama. On the same night, Shir Afzal invited Agus to his place as a guest. Agus learned that Shirafzal had been a fan of his for many years, ever since watching Agus perform in the tenth season of Afghan Star (a reality television competition that searches for the most talented singers in Afghanistan).
Far from Afghanistan, they connected through their shared love of music. In a foreign land, they found kindness and friendship in this shared heritage and culture. Accompanied by other Afghan refugees they played music, ate, and sang the night away.
After that night, Shir Afzal and Agus would often perform together along with other Indonesian and refugee players at the Embassy of Afghanistan for a celebration of the country’s Independence Day. Agus had often also contacted Shir Afzal to catch up on how things were going and anytime Agus was in the city he would visit Shir Afzal once he got the chance.
Since then, he has met more Indonesian colleagues and friends. Friendship and bonds formed as they met up to drink coffee and tea to discuss improvements.
Shir Afzal (left) playing the Dambora with Hanif, who is playing the Harmonica, for World Refugee Day.
A performance between Hanif (left) playing the Tabla and Shir Afzal for UNHCR in 2018.
“I met Maray during practice, he plays the Tabla,” he said of one friend. “It was interesting for me to play an Afghan instrument for an Indonesian song. I don’t understand what he’s saying but I feel the tone of his melody when we’re practicing.”
Shir Afzal has also expressed that he dreams of being a professional musician.
Through this shared language of music, Shir Afzal connected not only with the culture and people of Indonesia, he also showed that the culture of Afghanistan was not as distant as he once thought.
Shir Afzal (second to left) and his bandmates perform for Afghanistan’s Independence Day in the Afghanistan Embassy.
Shir Afzal is holding the Dambora, a guitar-like music instrument that is popular and largely used by classic singers and folklore musicians in Afghanistan, and practicing for a concert in 2019.