TEHRAN – The Afghan music group “Salam” took the stage on Tuesday, the second day of the 41st Fajr International Music Festival, at Roudaki Hall, performing local and traditional pieces from Afghanistan.

The members of the “Salam” music group, dressed in traditional Afghan attire and playing indigenous instruments, rubab, tabla, dutar, and harmonium, along with a vocalist, performed local and folk pieces from their country. Most of the themes centered on exile, migration, distance from homeland, land, and family, IRNA reported.

Speaking about the group’s participation in the festival and the pieces performed, Hamid Sael, the leader of the group, said: “In this concert, we presented selections of indigenous and folkloric music from several provinces of Afghanistan, as well as notable pieces from Herat Province.”

Regarding the formation of the “Salam” group, Sael stated: “Before the revolution, I was a member of the Union of Afghan Artists. After the wars and waves of migration, I came to Iran about 42 years ago and began my artistic activities here in 1986. Around that time, we founded the ‘Salam’ group, which remains active to this day. Initially, the group had five members, but now it has about 50 members. These members perform in smaller ensembles of up to eight musicians at various events and festivals, presenting Afghan musical works and compositions.”

Sael also noted his previous participation in the Fajr Music Festival, adding: “This is not my first time at the festival; I have taken part in several previous editions. Such performances can play an important role in introducing the music of different countries and strengthening cultural diplomacy.”

Referring to the musical commonalities between Iran and Afghanistan, Sael said: “The poetic connections between the two countries are extensive. In our works, we use poems by contemporary Iranian and Afghan poets, and we have always tried to preserve this shared cultural aspect through songs, ballads, and group performances.”

“Some Afghan musical instruments are shared with Iran. This reflects the deep historical roots of music in Iran and Afghanistan, which we have always tried to preserve. Music is a need of society, and through this art, we have sought to remove certain mental and cultural borders. I hope this carries a positive message for music lovers and for the people of both Iran and Afghanistan.”

He also explained the poetry used in their performances: “In our works, we draw on the poetry of Iranian poets like Hafez, Saadi, Khayyam, Rumi, and Shahriar, as well as Afghan poets.”

Sael further mentioned collaboration with Iranian artists: “We have worked with many artists from Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Shiraz, as well as with artists from the IRIB and the House of Music, and we have produced numerous joint works.”

The 41st Fajr International Music Festival, under the theme “Iran, Melody of the Soul,” directed by Arash Amini, is being held from February 9 to 15, at various venues in Tehran.

Organized by the Iran Music Association with the support of the Music Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the festival includes six sections: “Iranian Music,” “Choirs,” “Children and Youth Ensembles,” “Fusion and Pop Genres,” “Classical Music,” and “Regional and Ethnic Music of Iran.”

The Fajr International Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Tehran, as part of the broader Fajr festival series. It brings together Iranian and international performers across a program of concerts and recitals.

Visitors can expect a program centered on live musical performances ranging from solo recitals to ensemble concerts. Programming varies by year and may include a mix of traditional, classical, and contemporary music presented at multiple venues in the city.

The festival functions as a city-based series of events rather than a single outdoor pageant: concerts are typically held at concert halls and cultural venues across Tehran.

Founded in 1986, the festival was first called “The Revolutionary Songs and Anthems Festival,” and twelve ensembles performed in its first edition to celebrate and embark on the first important music event of the country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. For four years, it was considered the only occasion in which the Iranian musicians and maestros could perform and hold concerts.

After the Iraqi-imposed war against Iran ended in 1988, the name was changed to “Fajr Music Festival”. Two years later, the festival was held as an international event for the first time, and foreign ensembles came to Iran to perform in diverse musical genres, mostly from Muslim nations such as Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and India.

Afterward, in different editions, the attendance of many well-known world musicians from around the world paved the way for a more effective intercultural musical dialogue between Iran and other countries and kindled new inspirations in our musical context.

SS/