Oakland, CA – The Oakland Public Library’s Golden Gate Branch will have a new sound this Saturday, November 10 as it welcomes Kabul Dreams, Afghanistan’s first rock band, for a performance as a part of The Oakland Mosaic program series.
The Oakland Mosaic series highlights the experience and talents of Oakland’s immigrant communities; Kabul Dreams members Sulyman Qardesh (lead singer and guitarist), Raby Adib (drummer) and Siddique Ahmed (bassist) immigrated to the United States in 2013 after receiving multiple death threats for being in a “Western” rock band.
It wasn’t the first time they were forced to leave Afghanistan. During the Taliban’s reign in the early 2000s Qardesh fled to Uzbekistan while Ahmad escaped to Pakistan. In 2007, they returned to Afghanistan after the Taliban’s fall, met each other in Kabul, and formed a band a year later.
The bandmates are from different regions of Afghanistan and do not share a common first language. All of their songs are performed in English and their influences include the Sex Pistols, Metallica, Oasis and Nirvana.
Their motivation to perform came not only from their own love of music, but also yearning for a new life after war – a life that included new music and art.
This project is made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.
What: Kabul Dreams, Afghanistan’s 1st Rock Band
Cost: Free
When: Saturday, November 10, 2-4 PM
Where: Golden Gate Branch Library, 5606 San Pablo Ave.
