Saifo
Encyclopedia
Saifo was a Tajik
folkloric singer, eventually originally from Murghab
, Tajikistan
or Badakhshan
, Afghanistan. He is remembered for his controversial and provocative lyrics, much of it he improvised as he sang. He believed the power of verbal freedom (and spontaneity) should rule over both studio recording session and live performances. As such, he loosely based his songs on beforehand arranged lyrics. Sometimes this would result in songs all together different in meaning than what was written initially. His recorded songs do reflect the un-meditated nature of his work.
and teenage years. His family roots is not clear and sources only speak of his life after his rise to fame which peaked in the 1980’s. His date of birth is also not clearly known but same sources have placed it in the early 1940's. This was due to his own reluctance in speaking about his past in his interviews. He maintained his fame transformed him physically and spiritually and so there was no need to understand his past. He believed his personal history will confuse perceiving his post-fame personality that he wished to present as his true self. Those who knew him personally also didn’t reveal more than the singer did himself. Whether this was at Saifo's specific instruction is not known.
. This was more absorbing for the audience since the singer would sometimes go into a stupor like state, carrying his songs at lengths about unfaithful women, treacherous friends and unfair deprivation. In couple of his performances, it was said that he carried a song to almost a length of 30 minutes in which he debated with himself on these issues. Saifo is best known and famous in the three Persian-Speaking countries, Iran
, Afghanistan and Tajikistan
, for two special songs: Masoma and Laila Ghutai Jan. Masoma was based on the description of a beloved young lady and the song described her at length for her ideal qualities. Laila Ghutai Jan was more critical as it spoke of a beloved who had lost her affection. Although the main subject remained the same, the content of these songs were not consistent in his performances, making it almost a new presentation each time. Later the renditions of these songs by other singers and more recently by the late Nasrat Parsa
(Masoma) made them memorable.
, the singer maintained the crowd misinterpreted the true meaning of his words.
) and Saifo offended the guests. What he sang and exactly what led to the Taliban soldiers firing on him is an issue of debate.
Demographics of Afghanistan
The population of Afghanistan is around 29,835,392 as of the year 2011, which is unclear if the refugees living outside the country are included or not. The nation is composed of a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society, reflecting its location astride historic trade and invasion routes between...
folkloric singer, eventually originally from Murghab
Murghab
Murghab may refer to:*Murghob District, a district in the Tajikistani province of Gorno-Badakhshan*Murghab, Tajikistan*Murghab District in Badghis Province, Afghanistan*Murghab, Afghanistan...
, Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
or Badakhshan
Badakhshan
Badakhshan is an historic region comprising parts of what is now northeastern Afghanistan and southeastern Tajikistan. The name is retained in Badakhshan Province which is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, in the far northeast of Afghanistan, and contains the Wakhan Corridor...
, Afghanistan. He is remembered for his controversial and provocative lyrics, much of it he improvised as he sang. He believed the power of verbal freedom (and spontaneity) should rule over both studio recording session and live performances. As such, he loosely based his songs on beforehand arranged lyrics. Sometimes this would result in songs all together different in meaning than what was written initially. His recorded songs do reflect the un-meditated nature of his work.
Background
Little is known of Saifo’s early years, especially childhoodChildhood
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...
and teenage years. His family roots is not clear and sources only speak of his life after his rise to fame which peaked in the 1980’s. His date of birth is also not clearly known but same sources have placed it in the early 1940's. This was due to his own reluctance in speaking about his past in his interviews. He maintained his fame transformed him physically and spiritually and so there was no need to understand his past. He believed his personal history will confuse perceiving his post-fame personality that he wished to present as his true self. Those who knew him personally also didn’t reveal more than the singer did himself. Whether this was at Saifo's specific instruction is not known.
The Singer
There are a few albums of Saifo recorded; however, they are sparse. Most of his fans preferred to see the live performance and mainly for the improvisationImprovisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
. This was more absorbing for the audience since the singer would sometimes go into a stupor like state, carrying his songs at lengths about unfaithful women, treacherous friends and unfair deprivation. In couple of his performances, it was said that he carried a song to almost a length of 30 minutes in which he debated with himself on these issues. Saifo is best known and famous in the three Persian-Speaking countries, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Afghanistan and Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, for two special songs: Masoma and Laila Ghutai Jan. Masoma was based on the description of a beloved young lady and the song described her at length for her ideal qualities. Laila Ghutai Jan was more critical as it spoke of a beloved who had lost her affection. Although the main subject remained the same, the content of these songs were not consistent in his performances, making it almost a new presentation each time. Later the renditions of these songs by other singers and more recently by the late Nasrat Parsa
Nasrat Parsa
Nasrat Parsa was a popular Afghan singer. Up until his murder, he continued his music in exile from Hamburg, Germany, occasionally touring other countries.-Background:Nasrat Ali Parsa was born in a suburb of Kabul, Afghanistan...
(Masoma) made them memorable.
Controversy
Saifo had established a reputation by the 80’s for his unconventional style and boldness. His practice led to several controversies. In one wedding where his band was leading the music, he questioned the virility of the groom. On another occasion, he referred to a woman’s breasts as hidden apples. Both of these happened while he was in heat of his singing stupor. Although he was satirized later, he was not dismissed from these events. However, on Mother’s Day, he was requested to sing a song for mothers and controversy began. He is said to have started singing one of his songs in which he improvised (Persian: دو زلفان سیاه چو مار داری مادر من ... شنیدم با رقيبان تار داري مادر من ) which translates as …two long black tresses like a snake you have, O Mother …I've known with our rivals illicit relations you have, O Mother. This led to agitation of the crowd who pelted him with tomatoes and eggs. Despite the negative publicityPublicity
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...
, the singer maintained the crowd misinterpreted the true meaning of his words.
Death
The exact circumstances of Saifo’s death are not clear. However, some sources attribute it to his lyrics which had provoked people at a wedding he was performing. It is maintained the wedding was a Pashtun Taliban general's (the then rulers of AfghanistanAfghanistan
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...
) and Saifo offended the guests. What he sang and exactly what led to the Taliban soldiers firing on him is an issue of debate.
Trivia
- The comrade musicians of his band were highly respectful of him and obeyed his orders.
- When asked about claims of plagiarismPlagiarismPlagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work, but the notion remains problematic with nebulous...
, he vehemently refuted the charge and said the accusers are jealous people who didn’t have sharp, instantaneous composingMusical compositionMusical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
skills like he had and therefore are doing all they can to discredit him.
- Unlike other singers, he refused to leave AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , 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...
despite the strife and civil warCivil warA civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
.