Akbar Darwazi اکبر دروازی

(1947/48 – 2020)
Folk and Regional Music Master from Badakhshan, Afghanistan

Ustad Akbar Shah Darwazi was a celebrated performer and cultural figure of Badakhshan’s regional musical traditions. He was born in 1326 Solar Hijri (1947/48) in the Maymi district of Badakhshan, a mountainous region known for its rich oral and musical heritage. From an early age, Darwazi developed a deep artistic sensibility shaped by the natural landscapes of his homeland and the folk musical traditions of his community.

Darwazi’s artistic journey began in the early 1970s when personal experiences, particularly an unfulfilled romantic relationship, inspired him to express emotional narratives through poetry and song. Music became both a creative outlet and a form of personal storytelling, themes that remained central throughout his career.

His voice gained national recognition in 1363 Solar Hijri (1984/85) when he appeared on Afghanistan’s National Television. Darwazi’s performances were widely appreciated for preserving and representing the cultural identity, emotional expression, and musical traditions of Badakhshan. During this period, he frequently collaborated with fellow musicians including Azizullah Darwazi and Fathullah Darwazi.

The political and social instability of the period posed severe risks to musicians and cultural practitioners. Several of Darwazi’s colleagues, including Azizullah Darwazi and Fathullah Darwazi, were reportedly killed by local militant factions due to their involvement in music. Darwazi himself faced multiple threats but continued performing despite these dangers. Other musicians within his artistic circle, including Ustad Mankal and his son, also lost their lives during this period of cultural suppression.

In 1381 Solar Hijri (2002/03), Darwazi entered a spiritual phase of life after formally committing himself to a Sufi path. As part of this spiritual transition, he pledged to stop playing the dambura, a traditional Central Asian lute associated with his earlier performances. He remained committed to this vow, making only one final exception during a public gathering held in honor of Afghan cultural and political figure Abdul Latif Pedram. After this event, Darwazi continued performing vocals accompanied primarily by tabla.

In his later years, Darwazi’s repertoire reflected themes of mysticism, memory, cultural identity, and spiritual reflection. He remained active as a performer until illness limited his ability to sing.

Ustad Akbar Shah Darwazi passed away on November 2, 2020 (12 Aqrab 1399 Solar Hijri) in his native region of Badakhshan. He is remembered as one of the important preservers of Darwazi musical heritage and as an artist whose work reflects the resilience of regional Afghan musical traditions during periods of political upheaval. His recordings and performances continue to hold cultural and historical significance within Afghan musical archives and diaspora memory.

Source:
Mehraban Akbari (son of Ustad Akbar Shah Darwazi), Facebook post, dated 25 Sawr 1404 Solar Hijri.