Haroon Bacha (Pashto: هارون باچا) (born July 27, 1972) is a Pashtun singer and composer who, since beginning his musical career in 1992, has released upwards of 50 albums and numerous singles. Bacha is renowned for songs such as "Awal Ba Kala Kala Gham Wo", "Stergey Ghazal", and "Yaar Zhaghaida".[1]
Haroon Bacha | |
|---|---|
هارون باچا | |
 Bacha performing at AVT Khyber's "Sparle Suroona" in Peshawar in 2017 | |
| Born | July 27, 1972 |
| Education | Master's degree in Social Work at University of Peshawar, 1994 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Employer | Mashaal Radio |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Peshawar, Pakistan |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
Early life
editHaroon Bacha was born on July 27, 1972, in Panjpir, Swabi, Pakistan. He received his early education at Govt. High School Panjpir and followed with his matriculation from Govt. High School No. 1 Peshawar. Bacha completed his F.Sc. and B.A. from Edwardes College in 1992, and his master's degree in Social Work from the Department of Social Work at University of Peshawar in 1994.[2]
Bacha had a natural flair for singing, taking part in Naat Qirat and singing competitions throughout his early school days. Govt. High School No. 1 provided some chances for young Haroon Bacha to exhibit his hidden talent, but it was the music club of Edwardes College that garnered him a real place in the world of Pashto music.[3]
Career
editHaroon Bacha's musical career began in 1992 with a live television performance in Peshawar, Pakistan. His first album, "Da Rangoono Makhaam", was released in 1996, with "Ghwanchakoona" being released shortly thereafter. It was "Ghwanchakoona" that featured Bacha's most influential song to date, "Awal Ba Kala Kala Gham Wo". The song consists of Pashto tappa poems, and has since been translated into Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English by numerous artists.[4]
Since "Ghwanchakoona", Bacha has released more than 48 other albums along with singles like "Stergey Ghazal", "May Wey Nen Ba Haal", and "Deedan (Tapey)". Some of his recent albums include "Woolas Janaan Krra", "Heele", and "Gulrang".[5]
Bacha's musical career came to a crossroads in 2007 when he began receiving threats from the Pakistani Taliban. Through repeated text messages and phone calls, the Taliban asked him to quit music upon threat of death for him and his family. These threats lasted approximately one year until Bacha fled his home for Brooklyn, New York, where he was granted political asylum.[6][7][8][9][10]
In 2009, Bacha became Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty's Mashaal Radio branch's first employee as a broadcaster.[11] In 2012, RFE/RL relocated him to work from their headquarters in Prague, Czechia. Bacha has continued his musical career from abroad (with songs such as "Sawdagara", "Ma Ragora Sam Sam", and "Shamalooky") while hosting various music-related programs for Mashaal Radio. [12]
Inspired from him, his nephew Gulwareen Bacha has also chosen music as a career.
References
edit- ^ Shinwari, Sher. "Haroon Bacha's Biography". last.fm. Last.fm. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ Khattak, Bakhtiar. "Bakhtiar Khattak - Haroon Bacha - Stayena - Mardan". YouTube. PresSco EntertaiNment. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ Shinwari, Sher. "Haroon Bacha". Khyber.org. Khyber Gateway. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Shah, Rahim. "Pehlay To Kabhi Kabhi Gham Tha - Rahim Shah - GHAM - Official Video". YouTube. Rahim Shah Official. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ Bacha, Haroon. "Haroon Bacha هارون باچا". YouTube. Haroon Bacha هارون باچا. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ Sisario, Ben. "U.S. Refuge for Singer Fleeing the Taliban". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ Mashal, Mujib. "Taliban Silence Pakistani Musicians". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ "Music Freedom Day: What does censorship sound like? Listen to Freemuse on Spotify". Freemuse. Freemuse. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ Khan, Javed. "Taliban losing their 'war on music'" (PDF). Music Freedom Day. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ Shinwari, Sher. "Pakistan: The undeclared ban on playing music lingers on". artsfreedom. WordPress. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ Sohail, Khattak. "Pashto music: Bacha steps forward". The Express Tribune. The Express Tribune. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ Bashir, Malalai. "له هارون باچا سره ځانګړې مرکه". YouTube. Azadi Radio. Retrieved March 19, 2023.