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.

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

The title of this book is 'Women, Culture and the Taliban' but the subtitle should perhaps be 'Music, Women, Culture and the Taliban' as music in Afghanistan is the main focus. It's an interesting read but more music-focussed than I was expecting.

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.

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. #pen&Sword