The Rhythm Of Education: Dancing In Afghan Schools

Afghanistan has a rich history of dance and music, with the national dance being Attan, a group dance performed in a circle. However, it is unclear whether schools in Afghanistan have dances. While there is evidence of dance traditions in the country, these are mostly associated with social gatherings, weddings, and religious or national celebrations. The practice of bacha bazi, or boy for play, which involves young boys being dressed in girls' clothes and made to dance for groups of men, has been documented and is considered a form of child exploitation and abuse.

Is dancing in schools in Afghanistan influenced by its history?

Afghanistan's dance culture has been heavily influenced by its history, with traditional culture submerged under waves of colonialism, revolution, and Islamization over the course of its 2000-year history. The country's dance culture has been particularly impacted by the Taliban regime, which banned all forms of dancing as un-Islamic.

The national dance of Afghanistan is Attan, a traditional folk dance of the Pashtun tribes, the country's largest ethnic group. Attan is believed to have originated as an ancient pagan ceremony dating back to 2000 BCE, with no particular organized form. Over time, it evolved into a Muslim ritual performed by soldiers before battle. Today, Attan is a cohesive dance form that is an integral part of Afghan culture, performed at weddings, family parties, and new year's celebrations. The dance is performed in a circle, with dancers following each other in a circle, clapping, and performing spins and turns to the beat of drums.

However, the Taliban regime banned Attan and all other forms of music and dance during their rule, considering it un-Islamic. This ban had a significant impact on Afghanistan's dance culture, especially in schools, as educational institutions were heavily affected by the Taliban's restrictions. While Attan has regained popularity since the fall of the Taliban, the country's dance culture continues to be shaped by historical influences.

Another dance form that has gained prominence in Afghanistan is Bacha Bazi, also known as "boy play." This practice involves dressing young boys in girls' clothes and having them dance for groups of men, often leading to sexual abuse. While it is illegal under Afghan law, Bacha Bazi has deep roots in Afghan culture and has been a widespread practice, even flourishing in major cities like Kabul. The Taliban also banned this practice during their rule, but it has since resurfaced.

In conclusion, Afghanistan's history, particularly the Taliban regime, has had a significant influence on the country's dance culture, including in schools. The banning of dance and music during the Taliban era disrupted traditional practices and continues to impact the role of dance in educational and social contexts.

Is the bacha bazi tradition present in schools?

The presence of the bacha bazi tradition in schools is unclear. However, given that bacha bazi involves the sexual abuse and exploitation of young boys by older men, it is likely that this practice has occurred in educational settings, particularly in Islamic schools, known as madrassas.

Bacha bazi, which translates to "boy play" in Persian, is a centuries-old custom in Afghanistan and historically in Turkestan. It involves the sexual slavery and prostitution of adolescent boys by older men. Boys, known as "dancing boys," are often taken from impoverished families under the pretext of providing them with an education and a better future. They are then forced to dress as girls, wear makeup, and dance for their masters, who later sexually abuse them. This form of pedophilia and child prostitution is a well-known violation of human rights and has been outlawed by both the Taliban and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

While the practice is not explicitly mentioned as occurring in schools, it is known that the Taliban recruited fighters from Islamic schools, and one of the key factors in the rise of the Taliban was their opposition to bacha bazi. Mullah Omar, the founder of the Taliban, was motivated to take action against this practice after hearing about instances of militia commanders fighting over young boys and warlords kidnapping and raping young girls. The Taliban's strict enforcement of Sharia law led to the banning of bacha bazi, with perpetrators facing the death penalty.

The presence of bacha bazi in schools may be inferred from the fact that the practice has been deeply rooted in Afghan culture and has persisted despite efforts to eradicate it. The involvement of powerful figures, including warlords, government officials, police, and military personnel, has made it challenging to eliminate this tradition. However, there is no explicit mention of bacha bazi taking place within school premises or involving schoolchildren.

To conclusively determine the presence of bacha bazi in schools, further investigation and evidence would be required.

What are the different dance styles in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan's dance styles vary according to ethnic and geographical divisions. The Pashtuns of southern Afghanistan perform the Attan, the national dance of Afghanistan and the country's most popular folk dance. The Uzbeks of the north dance in a Turkic style, and the Haratis have a style that may reflect the era when Herat was the cultural centre of the Islamic world.

The Attan is a group dance performed in a circle, with dancers following each other round and round to the beat of drums, starting with slow steps that gradually speed up. It is performed at weddings, family parties, and new year's celebrations, as well as other religious and national festivals. There are many regional and tribal variations of the Attan, including:

• Kabuli Attan – performed by male and female dancers to the beat of a drummer. It involves a sequence of two to five steps followed by a clap while facing the centre, with the hips and arms tilting to the left and right, and the wrists twisting.
• Wardaki or Wardag Attan – this style does not include clapping, but it does involve twists, turns, and spins. Male performers often have large moustaches and greased hair, which is accentuated by their movements.
• Kochyano Attan – associated with the nomadic Kuchi people, this style is often performed by women for occasions like childbirth or new year's celebrations. Men perform it with long hair hanging loose, and the dance involves spinning and squatting movements, with handkerchiefs used as props.
• Khattak Attan – a martial style that can be traced back to the Moghul Empire, when soldiers performed it with weapons. Today, it is performed by physically fit dancers who do a five-step spinning routine while holding up to three swords.
• Paktiawal or Khostai – a simpler style performed by the Pashtun communities in the Paktia and Khost provinces. It involves five to seven steps, with the dancers snapping their heads to make their long hair fly through the air.
• Shinwari – performed by the Shinwari tribe in the Nangarhar province.

In Herat, there are three variations of the Atan (the Pashto word for "dance"): urban, village, and distant suburban or Kuchi (nomadic). The first type, the urban style, begins with a greeting called Mauzun Qadam (elegant rhythmic step) that starts with men in a row, with the leader standing on one foot. The dancers move forward in a single line, twisting their wrists and clapping their hands above their heads. This is followed by the official national 7/8 meter Atan, a circle dance referred to as a Dauregi in Herat. It involves stepping, stamping, and clapping, and can be performed by men and women together, in which case it is known as Ghberg Atan.

What are the different dance instruments in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan has a rich musical heritage, with a wide range of traditional dance instruments. The Rubab is considered the national instrument of Afghanistan and is often referred to as "the Lion of Instruments". It is a double-chambered lute with three melody strings, four frets, three drone strings, and 15 sympathetic strings. The body of the instrument is carved from a single piece of wood, typically mulberry or rosewood, with a membrane covering the sound chamber. The Rubab is played by plucking and is a precursor to the Indian sarod.

Another important dance instrument in Afghanistan is the Ghichak, a two-stringed fiddle with a body typically made from a large metal tin. It is played with a horsehair bow called a Kaman and is common in the central and northern regions of the country.

The Dambura, or Dambora, is a popular folk instrument among the Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmens, and Tajiks. It is a type of lute with two strings made of nylon or gut, which cross a short bridge to a pin at the end of the body. The instrument is played with a lot of banging and scratching to create a percussive sound.

Other traditional dance instruments in Afghanistan include the tabla drums, which are the principal percussion instrument in Afghan and North Indian classical music. The Tula, an ancient wooden flute with six finger holes on the front and a single thumbhole on the back, is also commonly played.

In addition to these instruments, Afghanistan has a diverse range of other dance instruments, including the harmonium, sitar, saranda (bowed lute), dutar (long-necked folk lute), and the Zirbaghali, a single-headed drum made of wood or pottery.

What are the gender dynamics of dance in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan's national dance, Attan, is traditionally performed by men and boys, with women rarely participating in public performances. However, in modern times, the dance has been performed by both men and women. The practice of Bacha Bazi, or "boy play", involves young boys being dressed as girls and made to dance for groups of men, who often use them for sexual favours. This practice was banned under the Taliban but has since re-emerged and is now widespread. In contrast, the custom of Bacha Posh involves girls being dressed as boys, allowing them to attend better schools, play sports, and help their families with chores. This practice is not driven by sexual motives but is instead a response to the social stigma of not having sons.

The country's gender dynamics are further complicated by the recent emergence of groups such as the one founded by Fahima Mirzaie, which bring men and women together to perform Sufi Islamic dance in public. This goes against the country's conservative culture, traditions, and religious beliefs, and has caused concern among those who fear a return of Taliban rule.

In summary, Afghanistan's gender dynamics with respect to dance are complex and multifaceted. While there is a longstanding practice of boys and men performing dance, there are also instances of girls and women participating in dance, either by cross-dressing or through more recent movements that challenge traditional gender norms.

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