culture

February 25, 2026

The Taliban are burning musical instruments in the name of morality. It is an assault on all culture

The sounds of Afghan history are being erased to prevent music’s ‘moral corruption’ of the Afghan people. We can help keep Afghanistan’s music alive. Plus, Eliane Radigue’s deep listening, and the brilliance of Sinners’s score

The Taliban are burning musical instruments in the name of morality. It is an assault on all culture

TL;DR

  • The Taliban are destroying musical instruments and outlawing music in Afghanistan, claiming it causes 'moral corruption'.
  • Musicians in Afghanistan live in fear of discrimination, torture, imprisonment, and death.
  • The Afghan women's orchestra Zohra, now based in Portugal, works to preserve Afghan musical heritage.
  • The article highlights the sonic pioneering work of composer Eliane Radigue and her emphasis on deep listening.
  • The score for the film 'Sinners' is praised for its seamless integration of various musical traditions, particularly the blues.
  • The film 'Sinners' is also seen as a satire on the commercialization and appropriation of blues music.

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