Afghanistan's first all-female orchestra performs in Davos, despite death threats

In 2014, five brave women founded Zohra as part of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. Photo courtesy: YouTube/ WorldEconomicForum

The World Economic Forum 2017 in Davos, Switzerland ended with a beautiful performance by Afghanistan's first all-female orchestra--Zohra.

Thirty young women, all dressed in a red hijab, mesmerized the audience by playing traditional Afghan instruments such as the rabab. However, their journey from the rocky mountains of Afghanistain to the stage in Davos was not an easy one.

Braving death threats issued by the hardliners, these women made it to their first international performance, and how! Many of these musicians had to keep their plans under wraps, since they feared a violent backlash from their community.

In a report published in Reuters, Negin Khpolwak, 19, was quoted as saying, "When I go home, somebody could come and kill me. I am so worried about my security. I'm scared."

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During the Taliban's rule, which extended from 1996 to 2011, music and fine arts were banned in the areas under their regime. Though, times have changed, many people still can't get over their aversion to music.

Adiba, who lives in Ghazni in east-central Afghanistan, said that her relatives couldn't shake their conservative views on women performing in an orchestra.

"But I am confident that music is nothing bad that I should feel shy of. Music is my profession. Music is something beautiful. I should be proud to be a musician," she said in an interview to the news agency.

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In 2014, five brave women founded Zohra as part of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and have been a thorn in the eyes of hardliners ever since. However, despite the fatwas, more women joined the group--taking the count to 30.

Kudos ladies! You are an inspiration to millions of women around the globe.