Afghanistan's Gem Hunters | Afghan Scene Magazine - Asia-Africa ...

at workAfghan Scene December 2009 at workAfghan Scene December 2009 Kabul’s first rock DJ puts his lifeon the line says DAVID GILLROCK THE CASBAH: AJ the DJ at Kabul Rock FM108 | David GillIn case you didn’t know. There is a war goingon in Afghanistan. This is not Obama’s War.This is not the Great Game Part 5. This isa war of culture… a war to win the heartsand minds of the nation’s youth (over 68 percent of the nation is under 25).Despite the removal of the Taliban eightyears ago this is still a very traditional andrepressive society. ‘Rock’ is still the music yourparents don’t want you to listen to. Few shopssell western music and if they do it’s eitherBollywood, Britney Spears or Celine Dion.Kabul Rock - Afghanistan’s first ever rockradio station has just launched and AJ, a23-year-old presenter, is one of the foot soldierson the front line, whose aim is to educate theyouth, or at least provide them with an optionto the relentless diet of unthreatening MORthat is currently being served.AJ rocks up to his interview wearing a T-shirtmocking the Taliban, a regime that bannedmusic and dancing during its five-year reignof fear. When he’s not rocking Afghan earswith music they’ve never heard, (Ice Cube tothe Rolling Stones) AJ runs his father’s famousbookstore – Shah Books – the inspiration behindthe hit novel The Bookseller of Kabul.“I used to think everyone outside of my wayof thinking was an infidel but know I better,music opened my soul and I realized that thepeople should have the choice to seek out andexperience new things,” says AJ.“I am not saying religion is wrong only thatpeople need to realize that Afghans can neverbe forced to do anything. I just want to helpprovide them with that choice.” Kabul, A City at Work is a selection of over 100 original portraits from thecapital. Its authors describe it as a window into Kabul’s soul. For moreinformation visit www.web.mac.com/shot2bits/work | www. kabulatwork.com10Afghan Scene December 2009www.afghanscene.comwww.afghanscene.comAfghan Scene December 200911