Zahir Howaida
Zahir Howaida was born on 28 February 1945 in Sharistan, in Daikundi, into a Hazara family — an identity he kept private for most of his public life. He became one of the most distinctive voices of Afghan music from the 1960s onward, known for a deep, unhurried delivery and for writing most of his own material. He studied operatic and classical singing in Moscow in 1966 on a scholarship and performed in Tehran in 1972. Back in Kabul he became popular quickly and worked across the country's media: radio news anchor, television actor and host, and poet as well as singer. Almost all his songs are in Persian. "Kamar Bareek-e-Man" became a hit in Iran as well as Afghanistan and has been covered many times since; "Shanidam Az Inja Safar Mikoni" is the other song most associated with him. A number of his songs were pointedly critical of the monarchy and of Mohammad Daoud Khan. He spent his later years living privately in Germany and rarely performed, before a farewell tour of North America, Europe and Australia and a final album, Ay Kash. He died at home in Hamburg on 5 March 2012, aged 67. His sons Arash and Qais Howaida are also musicians.
52 songs on Sandar, including 34 with video. Stream them free, or go ad-free with Plus.
Songs by Zahir Howaida
- Aey Jalwai Barqi
- Aho Zatu Amokhta
- Aye Asaman
- Aye Kash
- Ay Ke Az Lutf Sarasar Jaani
- Ay Mo Telaye
- Ay Pari Chihra Mozhgan Seeiya
- Bada Bada
- Beshkanad Daste Ke
- Besh Nawo
- Borda Ishqe Tu
- Borda Ishq To
- Chashmak Mazan Setaray Man
- Chashme Khomary
- Che Dedi
- Dar Een Shahraki
- Dele Divaneh
- Dil Ba Tu Dadim
- Do Chashm E Roshanat Abi
- Dostat Dram Berdai Dil Man
- Ilahe Ma Naded
- Imshab Agar Yaari Koni
- Intui Maqabel Man
- Pas Az En Zari Makon
- Qashanq O Dilrobaee
- Qesa Partaz
- Raseda Em Shab
- Shab Ba Khelawat
- Shanidam Az Enja
- Sobha Damido Roz Shad
- Sogh Khazar
- Sorat Gari Naqashi
- Ta Ba Kai Khoda Nala Sar Konam
- Tashna Am Tashna E Sharab
- Tu Barayem Mesle Bahari
- Zandagi Daryai Sar
Music videos
- Aay Paree Chehra
- Ay Kash Ay Ishq
- Ay Ke Az Lutf Sarasar Jaani
- Ay Mo Telaye
- Ay Pari Chihra Mozhgan Seeiya
- Bada Bada
- Ba Too Raftam
- Beshkanad Daste Ke
- Borda Ishqe Tu
- Borda Ishq To
- Chashmak Mazan Setaray Man
- Chashman E Khomar
- Chashme Khomary
- Che Dede Live
- Dele Divaneh
- Dil Shoda Ghafel
- Do Chashm E Roshanat Abi
- Dokkan E Rang
- Freshta
- Hangam Hangama
- Imshab Agar Yaari Koni
- Khodawanda
- Lailee
- Live in Concert
- Man Asheqam Asheqy
- Pas Az En Zari Makon
- Qashanq O Dilrobaee
- Shab Ba Khelawat
- Shonidam Az Enja
- Subh Dameed
- Ta Ba Kai Khoda Nala Sar Konam
- Tashna Am Tashna E Sharab
- Tu Barayem Mesle Bahari
- Yar Ba Een Baha Naraft