Afghan Star

In 2005, a new show was launched on television in Afghanistan to find new musical talent – it was called Afghan Star and was inspired by formats like American Idol and the X-Factor.

The programme came after the music industry in Afghanistan had been decimated under the Taliban between 1996 and 2001.

Music has been culturally important in Afghan history, however, playing music and musical instruments had been banned whilst the Taliban were in power.

Jahid Mohseni was the development producer for Afghan Star, he has been speaking to Tim O’Callaghan.

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Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.

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You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.

(Photo: The first season of Afghan Star. Credit: MOBY Media Group)