Taliban music ban replaces songs at some Afghan celebrations with unaccompanied singing

The Taliban administration’s ban on games and the broadcasting of music has led some celebratory gatherings in Afghanistan to replace music with unaccompanied singing, with performers singing so-called Taliban-style hymns by altering the pitch and cadence of their voices and stretching out words.

In one example, a video from a wedding ceremony in Afghanistan that has been circulating on social media shows several people singing in this manner during the event. The video has also drawn reactions from some users, with some sarcastically calling it a “Taliban Islamic wedding.”

Afghanistan is said to be the only country where the broadcasting and performance of music is banned. Under Taliban rule, many musicians have withdrawn into isolation, while some others have left Afghanistan.