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Ahmad Fanoos: Because of his notoriety as a musician and progressive ideals, his life, livelihood, and family were threatened by the Taliban. He escaped from Kabul in late August 2021. He is now reunited with his two sons, Elham Fanoos (Pianist) and Mehran Fanoos (Violinist), and has established the “Fanoos Ensemble,” which for this evening includes tabla player Hewad Wardak. The group is touring as part of a project called “Heart of Afghanistan,” featuring their own arrangement of traditional Ghazals based on Rumi’s poetry, songs by the legendary pop icon Ahmad Zahir, and Afghan folk songs.

More Info on other performances of Westbeth Safe Haven Artists.

See Special Exhibit on the Westbeth’s past and present Safe Haven artists at Westbeth Bethune Lobby Gallery 55 Bethune St, New York, NY.

More Info: Westbeth Safe Haven Program and its collaboration with the Artistic Freedom Initiative