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The Zahir Foundation for the Arts

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Mission Statement

The Zahir Foundation for the Arts (ZFFTA) honors the enduring spirit of Ahmad Zahir—Afghanistan’s "Golden Voice" and a revolutionary icon of unity. Ahmad’s music did more than bridge tribes; it challenged taboos and championed a peaceful, liberal Afghanistan. Alongside his father, former Prime Minister Dr. Abdul Zahir (shown on the left with President Kennedy)—who helped draft the 1964 Constitution to secure women's rights and press freedom—Ahmad’s life was a testament to the power of free speech. Today, ZFFTA transforms that legacy into action. We exist to preserve Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, empower women through the arts, and ensure that every Afghan artist can create without fear.

A Milestone of Impact

For decades, Afghan artists lacked international legal protection for their original works. Since 2014, ZFFTA Founder Shabnam Zahir led a historic, multi-year lobbying effort to bridge this gap.Working in close collaboration with the Arts & Entertainment Advocacy Clinic at Scalia Law School and the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington D.C., Shabnam spearheaded the quest to modernize Afghanistan’s copyright architecture. Her leadership culminated in a landmark achievement: On June 2, 2018, Afghanistan officially joined the Berne Convention. This historic accession ensures that for the first time, Afghan musicians, writers, and creators possess the same worldwide copyright protections as artists in the West. This wasn’t just a legal win; it was the reclamation of a nation’s creative soul.

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Our Leaders: Art in Exile 
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ZFFTA is driven by those who have lived the struggle for artistic freedom. As the photograph on the left side of this content shows Negine Khpalwak (Officer): As Afghanistan's first female conductor, Negine led the all-female Zohra orchestra until the 2021 invasion. Now residing in the U.S., she continues her mission through ZFFTA, inspiring a new generation of Afghan women to claim their space in music. Omaid Sharifi (Officer): Founder of Artlords, Omaid uses street art to transform the walls of Kabul into messages of hope and social justice. As a ZFFTA leader, he continues to showcase the resilience of Afghan artists working in exile.
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A New Resonance: Forging the Future of Artists

 

History is our foundation, but a new era is our mission. ZFFTA is documenting a global movement of artistic evolution, showcasing Afghan artists who are reclaiming their voices and redefining our culture on the world stage or through any other platform—digital, cinematic, or literary.

 

Our work is a testament to resilience: In November 2022, Negine Khpalwak conducted powerful arrangements of Ahmad Zahir’s music with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. This landmark collaboration was more than a performance; it was Negine's first major artistic statement after the 2021 Taliban invasion forced her to flee Afghanistan.The Song's Legacy: Ahmad Zahir wrote this revolutionary, rock-infused song to remind his people to remain resilient as the country faced the communist regime during the late 70s. Banned from radio airplay, its message is as relevant today as it was when first recorded: 

 

“Freedom and liberty mean life to mankind.

There’s no need for submission,

Fight for your freedom.”​

ZFFTA's Objectives

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