Ehsan Aman
Encyclopedia
Ehsan Aman is a singer from Afghanistan
. He is one of the few veterans of Afghanistan’s lost music Golden Age
who've maintained their popularity over the decades. He already had public exposure in Afghanistan in the 1970s and early 1980s with his first singles and the performances he held at Kabul University
. Exiled since the early 80s in the U.S.
, he has continued writing and producing music in the state of Virginia
, which has also been his residence since that time.
Aman is married to the daughter of late song writer Nainawaz.
, Afghanistan, to Mohammad Aman Ibrahim, an engineer
by profession. By caste he is Sarparah, whose lineage can be traced to the distinguished people of Helmand province
. Ehsan's interest in music developed in early childhood
when he learned to play the accordion
. This led to his participation in his high school
music functions that raised public support for his professional pursuit of music. After completing his high school education, Ehsan won a scholarship
to enter Kabul University
and he followed his father's footsteps to study.
Aman's serious interest in music began during university- during his attendance as a student, he held various live performances; Ehsan's popularity began to rise. However, there were tensions between Aman and media personalities- the adverse circumstances of the time period led to misinterpretation of his lyrics
and contributed to negative publicity
. His songs - which were regulars of Kabul Radio Station - were banned.
Bute' Daram, which he prepared as a gift for one of his relatives. Broadcast on radio
, it immediately brought the singer to light. He was then requested by the radio staff for another song, to which he responded with Allah. This single, surpassing the popularity of his first number, was aired repeatedly gaining Ehsan immediate national attention. His quick fame led to provoking of resentment from others and led to fabrication of stories against the singer. Avoiding a confrontation that could have cost him his life, he chose to leave the country. He arrived in Pakistan
in 1981. In October 1982, he emigrated to the United States
, re-kindling his musical pursuits. In spite of economic and technical difficulties, he collaborated with other exile
d musicians from Afghanistan and, in 1983, he released his first album: Musafer.
However, burdened with family life and the adjustment to the adopted country, Ehsan limited his involvements from 1985 to 1993 to a career in engineering. After 1993, at the request of fans, he returned to music.
In January 2002, he was asked by the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C.
to re-arrange the national anthem of Afghanistan. He performed his rendition in front of a 3,500 member audience, achieving acclaim for his achievement.
and composer
Nainawaz
. His wife supports his musical endeavors and often accompanies him to his concert performances. Ehsan is also a calligrapher and an avid tennis
player. From 1976 to 1980, he was a member of the Afghan National Tennis Team, and participated in many international tennis competitions outside of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He is one of the few veterans of Afghanistan’s lost music Golden Age
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...
who've maintained their popularity over the decades. He already had public exposure in Afghanistan in the 1970s and early 1980s with his first singles and the performances he held at Kabul University
Kabul University
Kabul University is located in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It was founded in 1931 but officially opened for classes in 1932. Kabul University is currently attended by approximately 7,000 students, of which 1,700 are women. As of 2008, Hamidullah Amin is the chancellor of the university...
. Exiled since the early 80s in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he has continued writing and producing music in the state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, which has also been his residence since that time.
Aman is married to the daughter of late song writer Nainawaz.
Early life
Ehsan was born in LashkargahLashkargah
Lashkar Gah , historically also called Bost, is a city in southern Afghanistan and the capital of Helmand Province, located in Lashkar Gah district. It is situated between the Helmand and Arghandab rivers. Lashkar Gah is linked by highways with Kandahar to the east, Zaranj to the west, and Herat...
, Afghanistan, to Mohammad Aman Ibrahim, an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
by profession. By caste he is Sarparah, whose lineage can be traced to the distinguished people of Helmand province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
. Ehsan's interest in music developed in early childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
when he learned to play the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
. This led to his participation in his high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
music functions that raised public support for his professional pursuit of music. After completing his high school education, Ehsan won a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to enter Kabul University
Kabul University
Kabul University is located in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It was founded in 1931 but officially opened for classes in 1932. Kabul University is currently attended by approximately 7,000 students, of which 1,700 are women. As of 2008, Hamidullah Amin is the chancellor of the university...
and he followed his father's footsteps to study.
Aman's serious interest in music began during university- during his attendance as a student, he held various live performances; Ehsan's popularity began to rise. However, there were tensions between Aman and media personalities- the adverse circumstances of the time period led to misinterpretation of his lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
and contributed to negative publicity
Publicity
Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people , goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.From a marketing perspective, publicity is one component of promotion which is one...
. His songs - which were regulars of Kabul Radio Station - were banned.
Career
Ehsan’s early works included the hit singleHit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
Bute' Daram, which he prepared as a gift for one of his relatives. Broadcast on radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, it immediately brought the singer to light. He was then requested by the radio staff for another song, to which he responded with Allah. This single, surpassing the popularity of his first number, was aired repeatedly gaining Ehsan immediate national attention. His quick fame led to provoking of resentment from others and led to fabrication of stories against the singer. Avoiding a confrontation that could have cost him his life, he chose to leave the country. He arrived in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1981. In October 1982, he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, re-kindling his musical pursuits. In spite of economic and technical difficulties, he collaborated with other exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
d musicians from Afghanistan and, in 1983, he released his first album: Musafer.
However, burdened with family life and the adjustment to the adopted country, Ehsan limited his involvements from 1985 to 1993 to a career in engineering. After 1993, at the request of fans, he returned to music.
In January 2002, he was asked by the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to re-arrange the national anthem of Afghanistan. He performed his rendition in front of a 3,500 member audience, achieving acclaim for his achievement.
Personal life
In 1985, Ehsan married his wife Sahar who is the daughter of the late Afghan poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Nainawaz
Nainawaz
Nainawaz Fazel Ahmad Zekrya is a renowned Afghan artist, poet and composer of music under the name of "Nainawaz". Nainawaz was one of the nine sons of a well known politician, poet, writer Sardar Haji Faiz Muhammad Khan Zikeria from the Barakzai ruling family...
. His wife supports his musical endeavors and often accompanies him to his concert performances. Ehsan is also a calligrapher and an avid tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player. From 1976 to 1980, he was a member of the Afghan National Tennis Team, and participated in many international tennis competitions outside of Afghanistan.
Accolades
- 1996: Artist of the Year. Afghan Youth Ballot. (Reported by Karwan Newspaper.)
Discography
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Musafer | First Album |
| 1999 | Sahar | Named in Honor of his Wife Sahar |
| 2001 | Blue Moods | |
| 2002 | Afghan Hope | Devoted for Afghan Children |
| 2004 | Heart Beat | |
| 2005 | Echoes from the Past | |
Videography
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Live In Concert | Ehsan's First DVD |