He came to the stage in a time when women in Kabul wore mini-skirts, foreigners flocked to Afghanistan on the “hippie trail,” and progressive change swept the country. Ahmad Zahir rocketed to stardom in the 60s and 70s, his voice capturing the soul of an entire generation. No other icon in Afghan history can allow us to more deeply explore a country that could have been, and unravel what such a progressive legacy means for the world today. An Afghan musical legend whose life symbolizes an Afghanistan that no longer exists but remains present in the hearts of its people.

WHO IS AHMAD ZAHIR? 
The son of Abdul Zahir, Afghanistan's Prime Minister under King Zahir Shah, Ahmad Zahir is born into privilege, making it highly unlikely and controversial that he would pursue a musical career. But from an early age, he is obsessed with music, and starts collecting records from all over the world.
Ahmad Zahir goes on to study under famous Afghan folk musicians, and he also travels widely, becoming exposed to the burgeoning musical revolution of the 60s in America, Europe and India. These varied musical influences, along with his love of Afghanistan's most notable poet, Rumi as well as ancient Persian poetry, lead him to forge an entirely new musical style, synthesizing Western rock with traditional Afghan music.
Sporting Elvis-like sideburns, his flamboyant, loud style and poetic lyrics create an atmosphere of intense enthusiasm during his live shows. No one had ever seen anything like Ahmad Zahir before. In the late 60s, recordings of his shows are being passed around on tapes from person to person, played in living rooms across the country. Ahmad Zahir takes the country by storm.