Haroon Bacha

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Haroon Bacha
هارون باچا
Haroon Bacha in 2017.jpg
Bacha performing at AVT Khyber's "Sparle Suroona" in Peshawar in 2017.
Born (1972-07-27) July 27, 1972 (age 49)
Panjpir, Swabi, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani & American
EducationMaster's degree in social work at University of Peshawar, 1994
Occupation
  • Singer
  • musician
  • composer
  • broadcaster
Years active1992–present
EmployerMashaal Radio
Musical career
OriginPeshawar, Pakistan
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • harmonium

Haroon Bacha (Pashto: هارون باچا ) (born July 27, 1972) is a Pashtun musician who sings mostly in Pashto and, to a lesser extent, in Urdu.[1] Since starting his professional career in 1992, he has released upwards of 50 albums.[2]

Early life[]

Haroon Bacha was born on July 27, 1972, in Panjpir Swabi, Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

He received his early education at Govt. High School Panjpir and followed with his matriculation from Govt. High School No.1 Peshawar. Bacha completed his F.Sc. and B.A. from Edwardes College in 1992, and took his master's degree in Social Work from the Department of Social Work, University of Peshawar.[3]

Bacha had a natural flair for singing, taking part in Naat Qirat and singing competitions throughout his early school days. Govt. High School No.1 provided further chances for young Haroon Bacha to exhibit his hidden talent, but it was the music club of Edwardes College that garnered him a real place in the world of Pashto music.

Career[]

Bacha's professional music career started in 1992 with a live television performance in Peshawar, Pakistan. His first album, "Da Rangoono Makhaam", was released in 1996, with "Ghunchakoona" being released shortly after. Since then, he has released more than 48 other albums along with one single, "Speena Kaotara", which was released in the United States in 2011. Some of his albums include: "Heele", "Ulas Janaan Kra" and "Darman".

Bacha's career came to a standstill in 2007 when he began receiving threatening text messages and phone calls from the Pakistani Taliban. The Taliban asked him to quit music and threatened to kill him and his family. These death threats lasted approximately one year until on August 14, 2008, Bacha fled his home and went to Brooklyn, New York, where he was granted political asylum.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

In 2009, Bacha became Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty's Mashaal Radio branch's first employee as a broadcaster.[16]

In July 2012, he was transferred by RFE/RL from Washington D.C. to Prague, Czech Republic.

References[]

  1. ^ Shinwari, Sher. "Haroon Bacha's Biography". last.fm. Last.fm. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  2. ^ Khan, Karan. "Haroon Bacha Life, Work and Career, Interview by Karan Khan". YouTube. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  3. ^ Shinwari, Sher. "Haroon Bacha". Khyber.org. Khyber Gateway. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Sisario, Ben. "U.S. Refuge for Singer Fleeing the Taliban". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  5. ^ Mashal, Mujib. "Taliban Silence Pakistani Musicians". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  6. ^ Shinwari, Sher. "Pashto singer mesmerises audience with his velvety voice". Dawn. Dawn. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  7. ^ "In the loop: 'I am a couplet of Ghani (Khan), I am Pakhtun'". Dawn. Dawn. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  8. ^ "Another prominent Pashto comedian set to quit showbiz". The News. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  9. ^ "Another artiste says goodbye to singing". The News. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "Entertainment industry of Frontier hangs in the balance". The News. The News International. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  11. ^ "Popular comedian quits showbiz". The News. The News International. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  12. ^ "Music Freedom Day: What does censorship sound like? Listen to Freemuse on Spotify". Freemuse. Freemuse. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  13. ^ Khan, Javed. "Taliban losing their 'war on music'" (PDF). Music Freedom Day. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  14. ^ "Music Is a Human Right: A Performance by Haroon Bacha". buhbOmp. WordPress. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  15. ^ Shinwari, Sher. "Pakistan: The undeclared ban on playing music lingers on". artsfreedom. WordPress. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  16. ^ Sohail, Khattak. "Pashto music: Bacha steps forward". The Express Tribune. The Express Tribune. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
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