Ustad Awalmir (Pashto: استاد اولمیر) (May 8, 1931 – April 24, 1982)[1] was an Afghan composer, musician, singer, and poet who wrote and sang in the Pashto language.[2]

Awalmir
استاد اولمیر
BornMay 8, 1931 (1931-05-08)
Peshawar
DiedApril 24, 1982 (1982-04-25) (aged 50-51)
Kabul, Afghanistan
GenresGhazals
Classical music
OccupationSinger
Instrument(s)Harmonium, guitar
Years active1949 – 1982
LabelsVarious

He began learning music as a teen from various music teachers and began to perform for radio broadcasts. His first song was My Heart Has Broken To Pieces. At the age of 18, he performed at the Afghan Independence Day in Kabul.

He made a breakthrough into performing on the Afghan radio station with help from Malang Jan, a local poet. Awalmir's output consists of over 250 songs. His contribution to Afghan music led him the honor of the title Ustad from the Ministry of Culture and Information.

His songs include "Da Zamong Zeba Watan", meaning "this is our beautiful homeland", referring to Afghanistan.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Joya, Malalai (2009). Raising My Voice. Pan Australia. p. 194. ISBN 9781741987386. Retrieved 26 December 2018. We made a contribution to help restore the site of the grave of the beloved singer of the Afghan nation, Ustad Awalmir, who died, impoverished, on 4 May 1982.
  2. ^ Miller, Lloyd (1979). Aspects of Afghan music: with special emphasis on the music of Herat from 1970 to 1975. University of Utah, Department of Languages. p. 103. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  3. ^ Schramm, Michael (2008). Funktionalisierung und Idealisierung in der Musik: Dokumentation zum Symposium (in German). Militärmusikdienst der Bundeswehr. p. 142 (fn). ISBN 9783000251467. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-02-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)