The Fading Tradition Of Child Wedding Singers In Afghanistan

Afghan weddings are formal and hospitable, making them a representative celebration of conventional Afghan life and culture. Girls are increasingly at risk of child marriage in Afghanistan, with 28% of Afghan women aged 15-49 married before turning 18. The COVID-19 pandemic, food crises, and economic instability have exacerbated the situation, with families forced to make desperate choices. While there is no specific information about children singing at weddings, it is known that girls and women play traditional tambourine music and sing special, traditional songs, as well as popular Afghan songs, accompanied by merriment and dancing.

The role of music in Afghan weddings

Music has traditionally been a key part of Afghan weddings, with female guests and relatives singing and playing the tambourine. However, the Taliban's return to power in 2021 has led to a crackdown on music, with reports of wedding guests being shot for playing music at their celebrations.

Afghan Wedding Traditions

Afghan weddings are formal occasions, with many traditions and protocols to follow. One of these is the playing of music by female guests and relatives, who sing and play the tambourine to celebrate the union. This usually takes place at pre-wedding events, such as the Shirini Khori, when the bride's family accepts the groom's proposal, and the Nowruz, when the bride receives gifts and sweets to mark the new year.

The weddings themselves also feature music and dancing, with a special ending song to close the ceremony. The national dance, the attan, is performed at every wedding, with female and mixed groups taking part.

The Taliban's Impact on Music

During their previous rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban banned most forms of music as un-Islamic. Since returning to power in 2021, they have not issued a similar decree, but they are known to disapprove of music at weddings and other public events.

In 2021, three wedding guests were shot dead in eastern Afghanistan by gunmen claiming to be Taliban enforcers. The Taliban denied any connection to the attack, and a spokesman said that it was not permissible to kill anyone for playing music. However, musicians have reported being told to stop playing their instruments, and singers and musicians have fled the country.

In 2024, gunmen attacked a wedding party to stop music from being played, although no casualties were reported.

Child Marriage in Afghanistan

The Taliban's restrictions on women and girls, combined with economic factors, have led to an increase in child marriages in Afghanistan. Girls as young as 11 and 12 are being married off, with families feeling pressured to do so due to financial insecurity and fear of the Taliban.

According to UNICEF, 28% of Afghan women were married before the age of 18, and the legal age of marriage is 16 for females and 18 for males. However, child marriage remains prevalent due to regional customs and Sharia law taking precedence over national law.

The Future of Music in Afghan Weddings

With the Taliban's return to power, the future of music in Afghan weddings is uncertain. While there has been no official ban, the Taliban's disapproval of music at public events and their history of restricting music during their previous rule suggest that music may become less prominent in Afghan wedding celebrations.

The prevalence of child brides in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, with up to 57% of girls married before the age of 19. The practice is driven by gender inequality, traditional societal attitudes, poverty, and the belief that girls are inferior to boys. Child marriage is often used as a way to strengthen ties between families and settle disputes. It is also seen as a solution to poverty, as families receive dowries from the groom.

The prevalence of child marriage in Afghanistan has increased in recent years, especially after the Taliban's takeover in 2021, which restricted women's rights and access to education and work. Families feel pressured to marry off their daughters at younger ages due to economic hardship and the fear of the Taliban taking their daughters as wives. According to UNICEF, 28% of Afghan girls are married before the age of 18, and 4% are married before their 15th birthday. The legal age of marriage in Afghanistan is 16 for females and 18 for males, according to Afghan Civil Law. However, regional customs and Sharia law often take precedence over national law, allowing marriages below the legal age.

The consequences of child marriage are detrimental to the health and well-being of girls. They are often denied access to education, face physical and mental health risks due to early pregnancy, and suffer from domestic violence and abuse. The cycle of poverty is perpetuated as child brides have limited future employment opportunities.

The impact of Taliban rule on Afghan weddings

The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 has had a profound impact on the country's wedding traditions. While weddings in Afghanistan have always been extravagant affairs, with grooms expected to cover all expenses, the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islam has resulted in several changes.

One of the most notable changes is the ban on music and singing at weddings. The Taliban's religious police enforce this rule by scouring wedding halls in Kabul, ensuring that no music is played. This prohibition has had a significant impact on the atmosphere of weddings, with many comparing the atmosphere to that of a funeral. The loss of live music has also affected the livelihoods of musicians, with many fleeing the country or going into hiding.

Another change is the strict gender separation at weddings. While weddings in Afghanistan have traditionally been segregated, the Taliban's rules now require that men and women celebrate in entirely different halls. This separation extends to the wedding procession, where the groom is traditionally accompanied by male family members and friends. The bride is also prohibited from appearing in public without a male chaperone, further limiting her participation in wedding celebrations.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's education and employment have also impacted weddings. With women banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade and prohibited from working in most sectors, there are now fewer female wedding singers and other female-owned businesses involved in wedding celebrations.

The Taliban's rules have also led to an increase in child marriages. With families feeling insecure about their daughters' future and fearing that their daughters may be forced to marry Taliban fighters, many are marrying off their daughters at younger ages. This trend is particularly prominent in urban areas, where families had previously felt less pressure to marry off their daughters early due to increased opportunities for education and employment. The economic crisis and food insecurity caused by the Taliban's rule have also contributed to the rise in child marriages, as families marry off their daughters to alleviate financial burdens.

Furthermore, the Taliban's strict dress code for women, which includes the compulsory wearing of a face-covering veil, has impacted wedding attire. Brides are now required to wear modest clothing that adheres to the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic values.

Despite these changes, some wedding traditions have endured. The groom's family still provides henna for the bride's "henna party," which takes place the day before the wedding. The bride's family also continues to give sweets and gifts to the groom's family as a sign of acceptance of the marriage proposal. The elaborate wedding celebrations, including traditional dances and the cutting of the wedding cake, also remain a part of Afghan wedding culture.

While the Taliban has endeavored to project a more moderate image than during their previous rule, their restrictions on music and gender interaction have significantly impacted the joy and festivity typically associated with Afghan weddings.

The legal age of marriage in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's legal age of marriage has been a topic of contention, with various laws and regulations dictating the minimum age for marriage.

According to Afghan Civil Law Article 70, the legal age of marriage is set at 16 for females and 18 for males. However, Article 71 (subsection 1) allows girls below the age of 16 to marry with the permission of their father or a judge, and Article 99(2) and 99(3) of the Shiite Personal Status Law allows girls below 16 and boys below 18 to marry if a parent or guardian petitions a court and it is deemed to be in the child's best interest. Marriages for girls under the age of 15 are prohibited under any circumstance according to Afghan Civil Law. These laws apply to both Sunni and Shia Muslims, who make up the majority and minority of the Muslim population in Afghanistan, respectively.

Despite the existence of these laws, child marriages remain prevalent due to shortcomings in their implementation and enforcement. Regional customs and Sharia law, which dictates that adulthood is a prerequisite for marriage, often take precedence over national civil law.

The issue of child marriage in Afghanistan has gained international attention due to its detrimental impact on girls' education, health, and economic opportunities. According to UNICEF, 28% of Afghan girls are married before the age of 18, and up to 57% are married before they turn 19. The most common ages for girls to get married are 15 and 16. Factors such as gender dynamics, family structure, cultural norms, and economic factors contribute to the prevalence of child marriage.

The practice has been linked to negative consequences, including limited access to education and skills development, physical and mental health risks associated with early pregnancy, and perpetuation of poverty due to limited employment opportunities for child brides.

Efforts to address child marriage in Afghanistan have included the introduction of new laws, such as the Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) in 2009, which penalizes forced child marriage, and the development of national action plans to eliminate child marriage. However, the implementation of these laws has been inconsistent, and social norms and cultural attitudes continue to play a significant role in perpetuating the practice.

Afghanistan's complex cultural, religious, and legal landscape presents challenges in addressing child marriage. While the legal age of marriage is officially set at 16 for females and 18 for males, exceptions and varying interpretations of religious laws contribute to the persistence of the practice, particularly in rural areas.

The role of gender inequality in child marriage

Afghanistan has long struggled with gender inequality, which has led to the country being ranked as the sixth worst country for female equality in the world by the UN Development Programme's annual Gender Inequality Index. This inequality is a root cause of child marriage in the country, which predominantly affects girls.

The Impact of Gender Inequality on Child Marriage

Gender inequality in Afghanistan is driven by cultural and traditional perceptions of gender roles, which influence how women and girls are valued and treated. This inequality restricts girls' agency and strips them of the power to make their own decisions, such as whom and when they can marry. Girls are often viewed as a source of economic value and domestic labour for their future households.

The transactional nature of child marriage, where girls are seen as part of an economic transaction involving the exchange of money and goods, is influenced by gender inequality. Families living in poverty are more likely to marry off their daughters early to reduce the cost of living and gain economic benefits. This perception of girls as a commodity is further reinforced by the practice of "baad", where girls are married off to compensate a victim's family or to settle disputes between rival families.

The Impact of Education on Child Marriage

The level of education also plays a significant role in child marriage. Girls who have not completed their education are three times more likely to marry before the age of 18 than those who have finished secondary education or higher. Education empowers girls and provides them with alternative opportunities, reducing the likelihood of early marriage.

However, under the Taliban regime, girls' access to education has been severely restricted, with girls being banned from attending secondary schools and universities. This lack of education limits girls' awareness of their rights and reinforces their position as domestic workers and caregivers.

The Impact of Harmful Traditional Practices

Harmful traditional practices, such as baad, are often economically driven and reinforced by social norms and tribal codes. Religious leaders, such as mullahs and imams, play a significant role in shaping community perceptions and performing marriages, further perpetuating the practice of child marriage.

The Impact of Legal Frameworks

Inconsistent legal frameworks also contribute to the problem. While Afghan Civil Law sets the legal age of marriage to be 16 for females and 18 for males, regional customs and Sharia law often take precedence. The lack of strict implementation of civil law allows child marriages to continue unabated.

Addressing Gender Inequality to Prevent Child Marriage

To address child marriage effectively, it is crucial to tackle the underlying gender inequality. This includes promoting gender equality, changing harmful social and cultural norms, and ensuring proper implementation of laws prohibiting child marriage.

By empowering women and girls through education, economic opportunities, and legal protections, Afghanistan can break the cycle of gender inequality and child marriage, improving the lives of girls and the country's long-term development and sustained peace.

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