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AFCENT band makes history on Bayan Radio

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Steven M. Przyzycki
  • U.S. Air Force Central Command Band
KABUL, Afghanistan --  The U.S. Air Force Central Command Band, Touch 'N Go, made history as the first ensemble of western musicians to ever be featured on Bayan Radio in Afghanistan. It is the country’s second largest radio station reaching over 1.2 million Afghan listeners.

For 90 minutes, the band performed various acoustic songs in collaboration with two Afghan musicians, Sayed Homayoun Alimi, harmoniums and vocalist, and Satar Nangialiy, tabla drummer.

"We met for a quick rehearsal the day before," said Master Sgt. Andrew Benton, band's NCO in charge and keyboardist. "We rehearsed some traditional Afghan songs and one of our American songs. As we combined our instruments and voices, we knew we were on to something great. This is the first time this type of collaboration has taken place."

The band also took calls from listeners throughout the Afghan provinces.

"I especially enjoyed the many phone calls that came in from listeners during the show," said Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Larson, director of operations for the band. “There was a lot of interest from many regions throughout the country," he added.

The first song played was based on a famous poem from the Afghan poet Rumi.

"It tells the tree of life [which] has many straw branches for each of us to blow through like a flute,” said Sayed. “We are all singing a different song, but we all come from the same place. Through music and art we can gain a better understanding of one another and we find out that we have more in common than we initially realized,” he continued.

According to Satar, cultural exchange is the key to accepting one another and art builds a sense of community among people.

"Performing with these American musicians illustrates the true value of art," said Sayed. "The message is about love and it makes criminal things disappear from society.”

The collaboration was so successful that history will repeat itself when the AFCENT Band rejoins Bayan Radio on a future trip to Afghanistan.

"This was very, very special," said Farzan Ibrahimi, Chief Print editor at Bayan Radio. "It was wonderful, and I look forward to doing it again soon."

To keep up with the AFCENT Band “Like” them on Facebook or visit: http://www.afcent.af.mil/units/afcentband/index.asp