Ustad Mahwash
Ustad Farida Mahwash is the first woman in Afghanistan to be given the title Ustad — master — an honour awarded in 1977 that had until then gone almost exclusively to men, and which was controversial precisely for that reason. She came to music through Radio Afghanistan in Kabul, where she was working when her voice was noticed; the station's director encouraged her to sing professionally and gave her the stage name Mahwash, "like the moon". Her training was serious and classical: she studied under Ustad Mohammad Hashem Cheshti, whose North Indian–derived method is still used to teach Afghan singers, and later worked with Ustad Sarahang, while the composer Ustad Shahwali wrote for her radio recordings. She left Afghanistan after the upheavals of the late 1970s and 1980s, reaching Pakistan in 1991 and later receiving asylum in the United States. She settled in Fremont, California, and has toured internationally with the ensemble Voices of Afghanistan, bringing a repertoire rooted in Afghan classical and folk traditions to audiences who had largely never heard it performed live.
100 songs on Sandar, including 77 with video. Stream them free, or go ad-free with Plus.
Songs by Ustad Mahwash
- Aalo Aalo
- Ai Ho Meri Zandagi - (Urdo)
- Ai Zama - (Pashto)
- Alalo Taflaki Afghan Lalo
- Ashaq Nashawed
- Balkhi Ra Bebosam
- Ba Mahfil Chon Darayad Kaka
- Ba Nazi Ki Laila
- Ba Naz Naz Naz Tu
- Bego Janam
- Bekhan Ai Dil
- Beman Beman Ki Namimana
- Beya Sub Beya Sham
- Bia Sobh
- Biya Ke Burem Ba Mazar
- Bol Bol Gul Se - (Urdo)
- Chashme Qashange
- Chashmi Qashangit
- Chiraghi Dilam Ra
- Chishawad Ba Chihrai Zard Man
- Delam Amada B Josh
- Delam Judae Ta Taqat Nadara
- Delas Zang
- Delsetan Burdi
- Dil Bari Man
- Eshq E Mani Bia
- Gar Konam Sahabi
- Gufty K Mebusam Tura
- Guli Sebam Yar
- Ham Teri Teri Chahne Wali - (Urdo)
- Har Giz Dili Nasokhta Bar
- Hindi
- Ishq E Watan
- Jan Begoiamat
- Jan Dar Rai Janan
- Kabul
- Kai Bowad
- Khalil Ragheb
- Khodaya Shore Eshqi
- Kohan Deyaram
- Lori Lori
- Mae Jawedan
- Man Jan Kharabatam
- Man Kharabat
- Mastam Kharabam
- May Nakhorda Bad Namam
- Migriftim Sai Janan
- Naala Haa
- Nainawaz Madar Man
- Nala Ha Karde
- Negae Gahe
- Negaram Safar Kard
- O Baccha
- Paiman Awarim
- Pa Toro Stergo
- Tark Ishq
- Tawakal Bakhuda
- Tuki Hamrahi
- Wayran Makon Ashyana Del
- Yarab Yari Zeba
- Zem Zem Kajaki
- Zi Hejranat Dilam
- Zim Zim Zim
Music videos
- Aalo Aalo
- Afghani Old Song
- Allah Shah Koko Jan
- Aseeri Mani
- Bacha Mashi Mashi
- Ba Mahfil Chon Darayad Kaka
- Ba Nazi Ki Laila
- Ba Naz Naz Naz Tu
- Bea Ta Gol Bar Afshanem
- Bego Janam
- Bekhan Ai Dil
- Beshnaw Az Nai
- Be To Ba Gham
- Beya Sub Beya Sham
- Bia Sobh
- Biya Ke Burem Ba Mazar
- Bogo Bogo
- Char Baite Mahali
- Chashme Qashange
- Chashm Qashanget
- Chiragh E Dilam
- Chiraghi Dilam Ra
- Dar Aan Nafas K Bemeram
- Delam Amada B Josh
- Delam Judae Ta Taqat Nadara
- Delas Zang
- Delsetan Burdi
- Dilam Ra Shekaste
- Dil Mebari Az Man
- Eshq E Mani Bia
- From Mardomi Film
- Gar Konam Sahabi
- Ghazal Bode Ba Man
- Gufty K Mebusam Tura
- Gule Seb
- Guli Sebam Yar
- Gul Sare Chawke Sheshta
- Hindi
- Hoori Hoori
- Ishq E Watan
- Ishqi Mane Bea
- Kabul
- Kajaki Zim Zim Zim
- Khalil Ragheb
- Khodaya Shore Eshqi
- Khodaya Shoreshe
- Khosha Sob Baharan
- Lori Lori
- Mae Jawedan
- Mai Dil
- Man Jan Kharabatam
- Man Kharabat
- Mastam Kharabam
- May Nakhorda Bad Namam
- Mutreb Agar
- Naala Haa
- Naat Shareef
- Nainawaz Madar Man
- Nainawaz's Eshq Khakistar
- Negae Gahe
- Negaram Safar Kard
- O Baccha
- O Bacha Ba Tu Naraqsom
- O Koja Wa Man Koja
- Pa Toro Stergo
- Qadah
- Sakeena
- Saqiya
- Saqiya Mara Darya
- Tark Ishq
- Tawakal Bakhuda
- Tu Ke Mara Jan Aste
- Waqte Aasheq Shawe
- Wayran Makon Ashyana Del
- Zim Zim Zim
- Zindagi Dastan Gham
- Zulf Perayshan