After four years, music in Swat returns to where it belongs: under the open sky

The Express Tribune

After a hiatus of four years, folk musicians returned to entertain audiences under the open sky through their dance and renditions of music in Mingora on Monday. The musicians were performing at a wedding without any security restrictions. People of all age-groups were seen dancing to the beats, singing along with the performers. The event was open to all. “After a day’s work, I was in no mood to come here. But after hearing excited voices and blaring music, I came running to watch it live. I have to say, it’s just marvellous,” said Zahir Khan, a resident of Amankot. Idrees, a young boy who was dancing at the function, said, “I’m feeling ecstatic, we have been starved for this kind of entertainment for so long.” Music constitutes an integral part of celebration in Pakthun society. They hold musical concerts at wedding ceremonies, which are attended by not only relatives and friends but also outsiders frequently. “It is our custom to hold musical nights on weddings, which saw a temporary interval when terrorists uprooted the social fabric in this land. But it is good to see such events happening again,” Syed Karim Shilmani, a music lover, said. Even during the hard times under militancy, he never stopped listening to music, ever so secretly, he told The Express Tribune. Some of the musicians who had come from parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa seemed excited over the overwhelming response and hospitality of the audience. “We frequent Swat for concerts. It’s a great source of joy for us. But then we had to discontinue for security reasons,” said one musician. Muntazir, a singer from Sakhakot, said, “We are really excited to be performing here for the wedding ceremony of our friend.”