Sarban
Abdul Rahim Sarban, born Abdul Rahim Mahmodi in Kabul in 1930, is one of the defining voices of Afghan music's mid-century golden age. He sang, wrote and composed, and he played harmonium, tabla and electric guitar — an unusual combination that hints at what made him distinctive. What set Sarban apart was the blend. He brought Western jazz phrasing and the European belle chanson tradition into Afghan musical forms, and the result was neither a borrowing nor a pastiche but something audiences recognised immediately as his own. "Ahesta Boro", "Ay Shakh-e Gul", "Ay Sarban" and "Ay Bahar Sabz" are still sung at Afghan weddings and in Afghan homes more than sixty years after he recorded them, often by people who could not name the singer. He performed from the 1950s until 1986. Like so many musicians of his generation, he ended his life away from Kabul: he died in Peshawar, Pakistan, on 2 April 1993, aged 62. His remains were later repatriated to Afghanistan. His name is also written Sārbān. He is one of six artists in this catalogue whose recordings come from the Radio Kabul era rather than from any modern studio.
59 songs on Sandar, including 31 with video. Stream them free, or go ad-free with Plus.
Songs by Sarban
- Abri Seya
- Ahesta Bero
- Ahista Ran
- Ah Laily Laily Jan
- Ai Dard Tu
- Ai Jan Dilo
- Ai Nigari Nazanin
- Ai Sarban
- Ai Shamo
- Asta Bero
- Ba Chachashmani Dil Angiz
- Ba Girdat
- Baz Roz Amad Ba Payan
- Btaki Ba Tamanai
- Byaki Berim Ba Mazar
- Da Khkali Da Yar Da Mine - (Pashto)
- Dar Damane Sahrai
- Deshab Bakhoda Khomar Bodam
- Dewana Namodam
- Dil Ai Dil
- Dildar Ba Man Guft
- Dil Dar Ba Man Guft
- Do Chashmani
- Dor Az Rokhat
- Janana Gakim
- Kash Shikayat
- Khoda Ra Sarban
- Kojai Ai Jan
- Lab Khanden
- Nazdik Joi Bar
- Naze Jan Hamdamim
- Perahan Safid
- Saqe Dilima
- Sarban Sarban
- Seya Chashman
- Shishta Ba Ro Dosh Tu
- Taki Ba Tamanai Wesal
- Ta Pishi Paiat
- Yasaman Bahar Asti
Music videos
- Aaghosh Janan
- Aay Sarban
- Ahesta Bero
- Ahesta Boro
- Ah Laily Laily Jan
- Ai Nigari Nazanin
- Baz Roz Amad Ba Payan
- Benmay Mahe Royat
- Btaki Ba Tamanai
- Chashmak Bezan Sitara
- Dar Damane Sahrai
- Dar Daman Sahra
- Deshab Bakhoda Khomar Bodam
- Dushe Az Masjid
- Een Gham Be Haya
- En Ghame Behaya Mara
- Gole Narges
- Janana Gakim
- Janan Raft
- Khorsheed Man
- Naze Jan Hamdamim
- Nazi Jaan Hamdam Man
- Old Song
- Pashto Nice Song
- Pashto Song
- Perahan Safid
- Sarban & Sima Tarana
- Soraya Chara Am Kon
- Ya Mawla Dilam Tang Amada
- Yasaman Bahar Asti
- Zare Konome