With increased freedom in Afghanistan (at least for men, at least around Kabul) comes the natural consequence of freedom: stand-up comedy.
At a recent impromptu performance, Mubariz wraps on a long black turban – a favorite Taliban accessory – and twists his face into a scowl. He grabs a Kalashnikov to complete the look. Then he screams at the men to go to the mosque, physically prodding them with his rifle. He grabs one long-haired man and berates him for letting his locks grow – a Taliban pet peeve. His imitation is so precise that the audience can’t stop laughing.
Other topics of humor include “the radio call-in show where people dedicated songs by mullahs (minus the music, of course)” and that old favorite of comedians everywhere – armpit shaving. Except in this case, the subject is the Taliban’s spot checks to make sure that men were shaving their armpits. [In accordance with the Taliban’s interpretation of islamic law, hair had to be short, beards long, mustaches short, and armpits and pubes recently shaved or plucked]
And of course, everybody likes slapstick:
one of the most popular shows on Tolo TV, a private cable station in Kabul, is “Lahza Ha,” (Moments). It’s the Afghan equivalent of Candid Camera, where pranksters stop Kabulis on the street and con them with gags. The show is so well liked that some Afghans pray early so they don’t miss it, and jokes are rehashed the next day.
Although comedy has a long tradition in Afghanistan (“comedy in Afghanistan thrived from the 1800s until the 1960s”) one comedian tells the reporter that he takes his inspiration from more contemporary figures, namely “Mr. Bean, Jackie Chan, and Charlie Chaplin.”
Source: In Afghanistan, comedians joke their way to civic renewal
excellent title. now i shall fall asleep with The Smiths stuck in my head.
i have that on vinyl. one of my fave smiths joints of alll time. 🙂
ANNA
Greatest Smiths track of all time is How Soon Is Now or Every Day Is like Sunday
PB-
ooooh, i love those songs too! whenever i brood, i blare HSIN just like i did 17 years ago. 🙂
i thought EDILS was by Mozz though, when he went solo? it’s one of “my” best songs of all time. i know it’s blasphemous, but i love love love the 10,000 Maniacs version of that song as well.
p.s. great taste in music on YOU! 😀
ANNA
You are right it is a solo track by Morrisey but they all kind of bleed into each other I mean, The Smiths WAS Morrisey (virtually)
Every Day Is Like Sunday is sublime though
An yes HSIN is definitely a brooding song, like, fukk you, you dont understand me, I dont give a damn, because I have myself and blah blah blah why is the world so cruel etc etc etc
I like ‘Suedehead’ too.
and the pain was enough to make a shy, bald buddhist reflect and plan a mass murder
😉
The queen is dead is definitely their best album…
How Soon is Now truly rocks and makes Morrissey’s whininess forgiveable. That song brings back the eighties high school memories, that’s for sure (tapered leg pants rolled up past your ankles, two-tone hair, day-glo, jelly shoes and piled on bracelets. I had the bestest rhinestone collection in the whole world).
The only problem with the retro eighties fashion we’re seeing nowadays is that it is just as ugly today as it was the first time around. OOOf).
I refuse to give in to the 80s trend, damnit.
And How Soon is Now is made perfect by the wailings of Johnny Marr, perfectly counteracting the whining of our beloved Morrissey. Sigh.
I saw a documentary and they interviewed a load of Chicano youth in LA who are all crazy for Morrisey. Whats the appeal there I wonder?
Shouldnt they be listening to Cypress Hill?
Punjabi boy, shouldn’t you be listening to Cornershop?
Stereotypes…