Afghanistan Symphony of Courage

Symphony of Courage tells the story of Farida and Zohra Ahmadi. They were the last students of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music to be evacuated from the country after the Taliban takeover last year. The Afghan National Institute of Music (ANIM) was the country’s only music school, and home to the world-renowned Zohra Orchestra - Afghanistan’s first all-female ensemble. ANIM’s director Dr. Ahmad Sarmast worked with an international team of philanthropists, politicians, and musicians to facilitate their evacuation. After a brief period in Doha, the group travelled together to Lisbon - their new home, where they can perform their music in a free and open society.

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Atlantic Coast of Portugal

Zohra Ahmadi

“I’ve really missed my family. It’s been five months since I’ve seen them.”

Farida Ahmadi

“If I were in Afghanistan now, my life would be very difficult. I could never realize my hopes and dreams.”

These girls are refugees forced into exile because playing music is a crime in their homeland.

August 15, 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan

After twenty years, the Taliban returns to power in Afghanistan. Desperate thousands try to escape. When the Islamist sect last ruled, its leaders demolished Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. And banned non-religious music.

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast, Director, Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM)

“When the Taliban reached the gates of Kabul, I began panicking. I began panicking for the lives — for the lives of my students, my community. We all know that when the Taliban are in charge, they’re going to steal music away from the life of the Afghan people.”

Dr. Sarmast founded the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) in 2010. It’s the country’s first and only music school.

Lesley Rosenthal, President, Friends of ANIM

“Dr. Sarmast has brought together different ethnic groups from all across Afghanistan that have traditionally not gotten along — to play music in harmony together in these ensembles. He gave them a life in music.”

By 2013, ANIM ensembles had achieved worldwide fame. One ANIM ensemble had a special purpose.

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“We’ve been committed to promoting gender equality in Afghanistan and also to empowering girls and women of Afghanistan through music and music education.

“Thanks to this commitment, we’ve established the all-women orchestra of Afghanistan — Zohra — which become the symbol of emancipation of women in Afghanistan.”

Kabul, Afghanistan

Farida Ahmadi

“My name is Farida Ahmadi. And I have been studying music at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) for three years.

“The atmosphere is very friendly. You go there and play music out of love.”

Zohra Ahmadi

“My name is Zohra Ahmadi. I study at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. I started playing trumpet when I was in fourth grade.”

Farida and Zohra are cousins living in Kabul with their Uncle Juma. He serves as their guardian.

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“Farida and Zohra, they are born in a family which is very open minded. Their uncle’s highly educated, supporting girl’s education, arts and culture.”

Juma Ahmadi

“As a family, we had a strong attachment to Afghanistan’s classical music.

“Farida and Zohra said they would love to play music, so I began introducing musical instruments to them. They got enrolled in the Institute and made quick progress.”

Farida Ahmadi

“I really like classical music by Beethoven, Mozart, Bach.”

Zohra Ahmadi

“I like classical music a lot. I like Afghan music too.”

Days after taking power, the Taliban targeted the ANIM school.

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“The Afghanistan National Institute of Music was the only educational and cultural entity that the Taliban took over with armed people. They went to the orchestra room where was a beautiful baby grand piano. So, they destroyed that one. They destroyed the xylophone, violin. They destroyed cello, tanbur, sitar. They turned our school into a military barrack for the Haqqani network. The building that was always filled in with the beauty of music became totally silent. But the only sound that you could hear was the conversation between the Taliban with their Kalashnikovs.”

Farida, Zohra, and Uncle Juma went into hiding in Kabul, moving from place to place for their safety.

Zohra Ahmadi

“All our instruments are locked up at the Institute. We are imprisoned at home and cannot play music.”

Farida Ahmadi

“I am very much afraid of the Taliban, because they are ugly people. They are bad people. They take away all that people have: their joys, their art, their jobs. And so they don’t give people the right to live. They never allow people any freedom.”

Juma Ahmadi

“On the first days after the Taliban’s return, Farida and Zohra became depressed. Farida began crying and said to me, “Uncle, can’t we play music anymore?”

“I told her, ‘No, at least not any more in Afghanistan. But I hope you can play music outside of the country.’ Our only hope was Dr Sarmast.”

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“Since the arrival of the Talban, we’ve been working around the clock with my team to get the students and the faculty to safety. It was Yo-Yo Ma who connected us with the government of Qatar.”

Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist

“When I heard that these young musicians — and including an all-women’s orchestra Zohra as part of ANIM — were in physical danger, I felt a particular urge to be able to find any way to help.”

The Qatar government offered to fly ANIM students and faculty to Doha.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., (R-LA)

“The orchestra would not have been evacuated without the Qataris. So the Qataris were functioning at that time as a go-between between the US government and the Taliban. So in one sense, they were natural. They had the the they had the relationships. On the other hand, the Portuguese were essential because the Portuguese had agreed to accept the orchestra as it transited through Qatar on its way to Portugal.”

((GRAPHIC: Kabul, Afghanistan; Doha, Qatar; Lisbon, Portugal))

Lesley Rosenthal, President, Friends of ANIM

“Ultimately the Taliban had reluctantly agreed just to allow the group that had valid passports out, that was about a hundred of them. That left almost two hundred more still stuck in Afghanistan without the right paperwork.”

Doha, Qatar

Between early October and mid-November, four Qatari airlifts had evacuated 270 ANIM members out of Kabul.

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“When everyone else were evacuated from Afghanistan, they reached Doha safely. There was Zohra and Farida and their uncle left behind.”

Juma Ahmadi

“Unfortunately, (the Taliban) created problems for me, Farida, and Zohra.”

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“For me, it was important not to leave anyone behind. It was important to get them. They were the two youngest, they were also girls. They were girls, musicians. So, girls, musicians under the Taliban…you have a hell in Afghanistan, not a life.”

Farida Ahmadi

“I’ve been really scared since the Taliban have taken over. Everything seems very bleak.”

Farida Ahmadi

“Whenever I go out, I have to wear an oversized scarf. I feel like they (the Taliban) could knock on our door every minute to ask us who we are and what we have been doing. To tell us they have watched our videos and that they know we studied music.”

November 10, 2021, Doha, Qatar

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“Good evening, Quasim brother. The two girls did not make it for the flight, which is tomorrow, as their passport is not ready. The earliest flight that I consider and I’m hopeful that we might be able to accommodate them, and they will be able to get the passport on Saturday. The flight will be on Sunday. But again, it’s not confirmed.

“But we’re hoping that on Sunday we would be able to get the girls out of Kabul.”

Zohra Ahmadi

“Sometimes, I used to say at home that we might not be able to leave. My grandma would say we should hope that Dr. Sarmast would get us out of Afghanistan. My grandma’s words would raise my hopes.”

The passports were finally approved. After three months of uncertainty, Farida, Zohra, and Juma would soon leave Afghanistan. But not before saying goodbye to their grandmother.

Grandmother

“My dear, have a safe trip. May God protect you. Take care my child. May God bless you and protect you all.”

Juma Ahmadi

“May God bless Dr. Sarmast with good health and a long life. He worked very hard to make this possible.”

Grandmother

“May God protect him and bless him (Dr. Sarmast). May Dr. (Sarmast) always be successful for helping our children.”

Farida Ahmadi

“When I was hugging my grandmother, it was a very tough moment for me, knowing I was leaving my country for the first time.”

Zohra Ahmadi

“On the one hand I was excited that I was leaving Afghanistan, on the other I was sad that I wouldn’t be able to see my family for a long time.”

Juma Ahmadi

“Zohra jaan, Farida jaan, the last two remaining students of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music! They overcame all sorts of hardships and, with the generous and kind support of Dr. Sarmast. Today, November 16th at 3:30 PM Kabul time, they’re on board a Qatar Airways plane to Doha.”

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“Welcome. Thank God you made it. Thank God! Try to stay calm! It’s enough! It’s enough! You made it safely here. Your uncle is with you.

“Thank God you made it safely here! We’re reunited once again! We’re all reunited once again! We were all waiting for you. Thank God you arrived safely!”

ANIM Compound, Doha, Qatar

Farida Ahmadi

“I had missed music. It felt wonderful to be able to play the violin once again.”

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“When Farida and Zohra came out of Afghanistan, they immediately joined the music scene in the compound. From the very first day, when they arrived, they began singing and clapping and playing and enjoying the music once again. Because after the arrival of the Taliban, music was out of their life.”

Grateful to the Qataris, the students give a performance.

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, fellow Afghans. Please me allow to present a very small concert by the students of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. You proved to be the best friend of Afghanistan. Thanks to your support —””

After a month in Doha, Farida and Zohra fly to Lisbon with the rest of the ANIM members.

Lisbon, Portugal

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“Thank God you all made it safely! I am happy that you all got out of the Taliban prison. Once again you will have the opportunity to pursue what you love, that is music. You all bear a major responsibility to protect your cultural heritage.”

Farida Ahmadi

“I felt happy that we were the last people to leave Afghanistan but the first to set foot in Lisbon.”

Customs Officer

“Thank you, sir. Welcome to Portugal.”

Zohra Ahmadi

“I’m very happy that I was able to come to Portugal from Qatar. I feel I can achieve my dreams here.”

Farida Ahmadi

“I’m very happy today. But I also feel sad because my family is back in Kabul and I am here.”

The Portuguese Minister responsible for ANIM’s new home pays a visit.

João Gomes Cravinho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Portugal

“We understood very early on that there was an absolute need to evacuate the ANIM from Kabul. They were under threat of course because Taliban hate music. The Taliban hate culture. We felt that with ANIM we could here make a difference, by saying we’re available, not only to take a few hundred Afghan refugees, but we’re available to give a home to the Afghan National Institute of Music, so that it can keep up its work, so that it can allow Afghan culture to survive, to thrive outside of the country until the time when it is possible to return to Kabul and to Afghanistan.”

On February 14, 2022 the relocated ANIM school opens in Lisbon.

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“Hello! Happy day everyone! Happy first weeks of the school. Happy new academic year to everyone. Today you take your first step toward making change. The past two months were difficult months for all of us. Nothing will come to us overnight. The very fact that today you’re starting school means that change will happen. From today on, you will be rebuilding your lives.”

Four weeks later.

Farida Ahmadi

“I really like my school in Lisbon, so much so that I don’t want to go back to our apartment.

“I enjoy all my classes, because here people encourage you to try things.

“I hope to learn new techniques, so I can get better at performing so I can improve and become a better violinist.”

Zohra Ahmadi

“Three weeks after we got here, I received a trumpet.

“I am really happy that my lessons have resumed and I’ve the chance to learn more. I think I’ve made a lot of progress.”

The first orchestra rehearsal in Portugal.

Farida Ahmadi

“It was a bit difficult for me to play in the orchestra, because for the first time we had sheet music in front of us. When you do something in a new environment, at first things can be difficult. But if you practice and set a goal for yourself, you can achieve that goal.”

Zohra Ahmadi

“I enjoy playing in the orchestra. The challenge is to coordinate your moves with others. It means paying attention to the instructions of the orchestra leader, as well as continuing to practice.”

On March 29, 2022, the ANIM school hosts a special concert.

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who played a significant role in getting us out of Afghanistan to continue to revive and preserve Afghan musical traditions. Thank you to everyone, and thank you to all Friends of ANIM.”

The concert features a special guest.

Yo-Yo Ma

“There’s no society that I know of that doesn’t have music. Music does something for us that brings us together, that equalizes us, that kind of gets us that incredible communal state of mind.”

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast

“Hopefully, the seed that I grew up in Afghanistan in ANIM will further grow and give the fruit and the ANIM students in Portugal, who are currently in Portugal, ANIM students studying abroad, they’re going to back to Afghanistan and do what I’ve been doing in Afghanistan, to bring music back into life of Afghan people.”

Farida Ahmadi

“Once I finish school here, I hope to go to college somewhere. And once I become a good musician if circumstances allow, I’d like to return to Afghanistan to show my music to Afghan children and teach them.”

Zohra Ahmadi

“I really like Lisbon and my school. I can achieve my dreams here and play the trumpet. But if the Taliban were no longer in Afghanistan, I would love to go back home.”

Farida and Zohra continue their music and academic studies at ANIM in Lisbon. They hope their families will join them soon.

Though no official edict has been issued, the Taliban ban on non-religious music continues to be enforced.

Dr. Sarmast supervised the evacuation of 273 students, faculty, and family members from Afghanistan.