theartsdesk in Kabul: Talking Books in Dari and Pashto | reviews, news & interviews
theartsdesk in Kabul: Talking Books in Dari and Pashto
theartsdesk in Kabul: Talking Books in Dari and Pashto
A literary culture with low rates of literacy is introduced to the audiobook
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Nearly 90 per cent of Afghan males listen to the radio. Soon this young man will be able to listen to 'Talking Books'
One Friday afternoon this spring, a friend led me to a low, dusty room in an education institute in the Afghan capital, Kabul. A few dozen men sat in neat rows. Most were young and wearing leather jackets, a few were older and in tweed jackets or suits. One wore a turban and chapan, a warm winter padded coat. All were keen writers who together are thriving members of a literary circle, a solace of imagination, creativity and wonder far from the fighting and the headlines of Afghanistan's bitter war.
One Friday afternoon this spring, a friend led me to a low, dusty room in an education institute in the Afghan capital, Kabul. A few dozen men sat in neat rows. Most were young and wearing leather jackets, a few were older and in tweed jackets or suits. One wore a turban and chapan, a warm winter padded coat. All were keen writers who together are thriving members of a literary circle, a solace of imagination, creativity and wonder far from the fighting and the headlines of Afghanistan's bitter war.
After decades of conflict and poverty, Afghanistan has glaringly low levels of literacy. And yet, this country also has a long literary tradition
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