In the multi-ethnic state of Afghanistan, the Hazara are one of the country’s largest ethnic groups. But because they belong to the Shia minority rather than the Sunni majority and tend to hold more liberal views, they have faced generations of discrimination and persecution. Singer Elaha Soroor gives a voice to their struggle. She was one of the first women to perform publicly after the temporary fall of the Taliban and went on to win the Afghan equivalent of »Pop Idol«. When the fundamentalist regime returned, she fled into exile in London, where she has continued to preserve and promote her culture – with authentic songs in accessible arrangements that also feature instruments from Arabic and Indian music traditions.
This concert is part of the »Lost Music« series at the Hamburg International Music Festival 2026. The series is dedicated to musical cultures around the world that have been eroded by war and displacement or suppressed by dominant majorities. What unites all of the featured artists is their approach of combining historical research and authentic stylistics with modern influences. And each of them draws even more energy from their precarious status – for their mission and for their powerful presence on stage.
PERFORMERS
Roots Revival ensemble
Elaha Soroor vocals
Giuliano Modarelli guitar
Habib Rafie dambora
Haidar Khan tabla, harmonium, vocals
Mehdi Aminian ney, setar, saz
PROGRAM
Hazara music from Afghanistan
