Spotify Saves Music Students And Teachers From Afghanistan

Spotify have assisted music students, teachers, and their families to flee Afghanistan after learning that they were in trouble. The group of almost 300 associated with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) had been assured of their asylum in Portugal but were having difficulties in chartering a plane to leave the country. Upon hearing of the group’s peril, Spotify’s chief human resources officer Katarina Berg stepped in.

ANIM fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan

Spotify paid for an SAS flight that brought 273 people to Lisbon, Portugal at the start of December, where the musicians plan to rebuild the school. Spotify’s Elizabeth Nieto spoke to Billboard saying:

“The renaissance of Afghanistan music will start in Lisbon. We have an opportunity to ensure that music and voices are heard.”

Why musicians are fleeing Afghanistan

After 20 years of war and a consistent army presence from the USA and UK, troops suddenly left and control of the country was immediately taken by the Taliban in August of 2021. On the run up to this, perhaps wheels were already in motion looking back in hindsight – as previously reported by TheatreArtLife, there had been the implementation of more restrictions on women and girls in music and subsequent backlash which occurred back in March of 2021. We highlighted the incredible work that ANIM had accomplished since their inauguration in 2010 by reintroducing music back into Afghan society.

When the Taliban were handed control, one of the first things they did was to murder the folk musician Fawad Andarabi – the government dragged Andarabi from his home and killed him, sending a message to all musicians in the area.

Many went into hiding, notably ANIM’s faculty, students and of course the community of musicians in Afghanistan. ANIM’s founder Ahmad Sarmast explained that the Taliban was now in control of ANIM, and had assured him they had not damaged the hundreds of instruments there, although he remains sceptical of the Taliban’s claims that they would not ban music or oppress artists and would allow women to have jobs and education. Sarmast advised the music community to be very cautious, and spoke to Billboard in September saying:

“They’re worried about the future of music and the future of their life.”

Finding refuge

ANIM’s community managed to leave Kabul and arrived in Doha, which is the capital of Qatar, over the course of five airlifts that took place in October and November. Qatar had provided assistance and planes to get the musicians out of Afghanistan, and it was at this point that more intervention occurred to get the group on the next stage of their journey.

Spotify, along with the Afghan Rescue Project, philanthropist Victoria Robey and other contributors contributed funding to make the flight from Doha to Lisbon was possible. Following the group’s escape, Spotify’s Elizabeth Nieto has confirmed that they intend to replace the lost instruments in 2022 for the displaced people who have been able to flee.

Speaking to The New York Times from Qatar in November, Sarmast spoke of the belief that the future would be better for the artistic community, and that finding asylum in Portugal would bring better days ahead:

“It’s such a huge relief. They can dream again. They can hope.”

While the community finding refuge is a much-needed positive, there are still dark days in store for the people of Afghanistan. A state of emergency has been declared on the humanitarian crisis – between the conflict, economic collapse, a drought and Covid-19, the situation is incredibly dire for so many as a freezing winter looms.

In the UK an urgent alarm has been raised with appeals launched and the promise that donations will be matched by the UK government. The Disasters Emergency Committee’s Afghanistan Crisis Appeal outlines the awful conditions that those left behind are facing – eight million people are starving and on the brink of famine during the winter.

For more information on how you can get involved and help the artistic and wider community facing peril in Afghanistan, check out our article listing organisation links as well as The International Rescue Committee, and the UNICEF Afghanistan Appeal.

Also by Michelle Sciarrotta: