RASC News Agency: A two-day meeting convened in Kabul by the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, uniting poets and Taranah singers aligned with the group. Noteworthy officials from the Taliban graced this assembly, as reported on January 1st by Afghanistan’s state television, now under Taliban administration. During the proceedings, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, implored poets and Taranah singers to actively contribute to the system and the nation, underscoring the vital role they play in uplifting the people’s spirits.
The foreign minister characterized poets and Taranah singers as the “spokespersons of the system and interpreters of politics” for the Taliban. He emphasized their responsibility to prevent disillusionment among the populace. Despite the Taliban’s prohibition on music, reports suggest they have strategically employed poetry and Taranah singing to galvanize their members. An official from the group revealed that poetry and Taranah have significantly influenced 70% of their conflicts.
Contrary to the Taliban’s stance on music, the Taranahs associated with the group are predominantly Pashto. Taranah singers utilize computer software, including Auto-Tune, to modify their voices, praising the Taliban and delving into religious themes like martyrdom and the killing of comrades. It’s noteworthy that a Taliban official in Uruzgan province recently declared individuals who sing Taranah mixed with religious chants, such as “Allah Allah,” as having abandoned Islam and becoming infidels under Sharia law.
