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] in ], ].]] ] in ], ].]]
The '''culture of Afghanistan''' has been around for over two ], tracing record to at least the time of the ] in 500 BCE.<ref name="CAL-hist">{{cite web |url=http://www.cal.org/co/afghan/ahist.html |title=The Afghans - Their History and Culture |work=Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi|publisher=]|location=United States|date=June 30, 2002|accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref><ref name="LoC">{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Afghanistan.pdf |title=Country Profile: Afghanistan |work=|publisher=] on Afghanistan |date = August 2008|accessdate=2010-08-16}}</ref> ] translates to the ''"Place of Afghans"'' or ''"Land of the Afghans"'' in the nation's ], ] and ].<ref name="Banting">{{Cite book|title=Afghanistan: The land |last1=Banting|first1=Erinn |authorlink=|coauthors=|volume=|year=2003|publisher=Cpage=rabtree Publishing Company |location=|isbn=0-7787-9335-4|4|pages=32|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=KRt0HfYFZGsC&lpg=PP1&vq=place%20of%20Afghans&pg=PA4#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=2010-08-22}}</ref><ref name="CAL-lang">{{cite web |url=http://www.cal.org/co/afghan/alang.html |title=Language and Literacy |work=Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi|publisher=Center for Applied Linguistics|location=United States|date=June 30, 2002|accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref> It is mostly a ] and ], with different regions of the country having their own tradition, reflecting the ] and ] character of the nation. In the southern and eastern region, as well as western ] which was historically part of Afghanistan, the ] live according to the ] by following ], which is an ] ] that is still preserved.<ref>US Library of Congress: Afghanistan - </ref> The northern and central regions of Afghanistan are culturally ]. The western region of Afghanistan has a mixture of both Pashtuns and Tajiks.<ref name="CAL-people">{{cite web |url=http://www.cal.org/co/afghan/apeop.html |title=The People |work=Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi|publisher=Center for Applied Linguistics|location=United States|date=June 30, 2002|accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.understandingwar.org/map/afghanistans-ethno-linguistic-groups |title=MAPS: AFGHANISTAN'S ETHNO-LINGUISTIC GROUPS|work=|publisher=Institute For The Study Of War |accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/clpp/images/langmaps/Afgh_map_full.2.jpg |title=Map showing ethnolinguistics groups of Afghanistan|work=|publisher=] |year=2003|accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref> Some of the non-Pashtuns who live in close proximity with Pashtuns have adopted Pashtunwali in a process called ] (or ''Afghanization'') while some Pashtuns and others became ]. The '''culture of Afghanistan''' has been around for over two ], tracing record to at least the time of the ] in 500 BCE.<ref name="CAL-hist">{{cite web |url=http://www.cal.org/co/afghan/ahist.html |title=The Afghans - Their History and Culture |work=Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi|publisher=]|location=United States|date=June 30, 2002|accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref><ref name="LoC">{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Afghanistan.pdf |title=Country Profile: Afghanistan |work=|publisher=] on Afghanistan |date = August 2008|accessdate=2010-08-16}}</ref> ] translates to ''"Land of the Afghans"'' or ''"Place of Afghans"'' in the nation's ], ] and ].<ref name="Banting">{{Cite book|title=Afghanistan: The land |last1=Banting|first1=Erinn |authorlink=|coauthors=|volume=|year=2003|publisher=Cpage=rabtree Publishing Company |location=|isbn=0-7787-9335-4|4|pages=32|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=KRt0HfYFZGsC&lpg=PP1&vq=place%20of%20Afghans&pg=PA4#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=2010-08-22}}</ref><ref name="CAL-lang">{{cite web |url=http://www.cal.org/co/afghan/alang.html |title=Language and Literacy |work=Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi|publisher=Center for Applied Linguistics|location=United States|date=June 30, 2002|accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref> It is mostly a ] and ], with different regions of the country having their own tradition, reflecting the ] and ] character of the nation. Despite some differences, majority of the Afghans live the same. For example, they all practice ], live in the same type of houses, ], ], listen to the same ], and are usually fluent in both major languages of the country.
In the southern and eastern region, as well as western ] which was historically part of Afghanistan, the ] live according to the ] by following ] (way of the Pashtuns).<ref>US Library of Congress: Afghanistan - </ref> The western, northern, and central regions of Afghanistan are influenced by neighboring ]n and ] cultures.<ref name="CAL-people">{{cite web |url=http://www.cal.org/co/afghan/apeop.html |title=The People |work=Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi|publisher=Center for Applied Linguistics|location=United States|date=June 30, 2002|accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.understandingwar.org/map/afghanistans-ethno-linguistic-groups |title=MAPS: AFGHANISTAN'S ETHNO-LINGUISTIC GROUPS|work=|publisher=Institute For The Study Of War |accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/clpp/images/langmaps/Afgh_map_full.2.jpg |title=Map showing ethnolinguistics groups of Afghanistan|work=|publisher=] |year=2003|accessdate=2010-09-25}}</ref> Some of the non-Pashtuns who live in close proximity with Pashtuns have adopted Pashtunwali in a process called ] (or ''Afghanization'') while some Pashtuns and others became ].


== Art and music == == Art and music ==
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== Poetry and philosophy == == Poetry and philosophy ==
{{Main|Poetry of Afghanistan}} {{Main|Poetry of Afghanistan}}


] has long been a cultural tradition and passion. It is mainly in Dari and Pashto languages, although in modern times it is also becoming more recognized in Afghanistan's other languages. Classic ] and ] plays an important role in the Afghan culture. Poetry has always been one of the major educational pillars in the region, to the level that it has integrated itself into culture. Some notable poets include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref></ref> Many of the famous ] from the 10th to 15th centuries stem from ] (now part of Afghanistan), such as ] (Rumi), ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and many others. Moreover, some of the contemporary Persian language poets and writers, who are relatively well known in the Persian-speaking world, include ],<ref>.</ref> Sufi Ashqari,<ref>.</ref> Sarwar Joya, Qahar Asey, and ]. ] has long been a cultural tradition and passion. It is mainly in Dari and Pashto languages, although in modern times it is also becoming more recognized in Afghanistan's other languages. Classic ] and ] plays an important role in the Afghan culture. Poetry has always been one of the major educational pillars in the region, to the level that it has integrated itself into culture. Some notable poets include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref></ref> Many of the famous ] from the 10th to 15th centuries stem from ] (now part of Afghanistan), such as ] (Rumi), ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and many others. Moreover, some of the contemporary Persian language poets and writers, who are relatively well known in the Persian-speaking world, include ],<ref>.</ref> Sufi Ashqari,<ref>.</ref> Sarwar Joya, Qahar Asey, and ].


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{{Main|Sport in Afghanistan}} {{Main|Sport in Afghanistan}}
] in the 1930s in Kabul, Afghanistan.]] ] in the 1930s in Kabul, Afghanistan.]]
The sports in Afghanistan are run by the ], which promotes ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]{{Disambiguation needed|date=December 2011}}, ], and other sports.<ref name="PAN-Sports">{{cite web |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/sports |title=Sports |publisher=] |accessdate=2011-03-30}}</ref> At the moment, football and cricket are the most popular sports in Afghanistan. The ], which officially began in 2002, and is dominated by Pashtun players, has played in the ] and the ]. The team played its first one-day international against the ] on February 2012, but lost by 7 wickets.<ref>http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ap-afghanistan-pakistan</ref> In the national level, cricket matches are played between provinces, mainly between the south and eastern provinces of the country. In the other sports, Afghans usually play with challengers of neighboring states and sometimes with other Asian countries. The sports in Afghanistan are run by the ], which promotes ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]{{Disambiguation needed|date=December 2011}}, ], and other sports.<ref name="PAN-Sports">{{cite web |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/sports |title=Sports |publisher=] |accessdate=2011-03-30}}</ref>
] and football are the most popular sports in Afghanistan. The ], which was formed in 2001, has held matches against all other international cricket teams. The Afghan team rapidly rose through the ] since early 2008. It participated in the ], ], and ] where they played India and South Africa. The team won the ] in 2007, 2009, and 2011. It played against top ranking teams in the ] and the ]. In the national level, cricket matches are played between provinces, mainly between the south and eastern provinces of the country. In the other sports, Afghans usually play with challengers of neighboring states and sometimes with other Asian countries.


The ] was founded in 1922, joined ] in 1948 and the ] (AFC) in 1954. Although it did not play in any international games from 1984 to 2003 due to the war, it is now striving and hoping to make it to FIFA. The ] was formed in 2007. The ], which was built during the reign of ] ], was once used for a venue for public executions by the Taliban government. The stadium is currently used mostly for football matches between teams from different provinces of the country as well as neighboring countries. ] has existed in Afghanistan since at least the 1970s, and is slowly becoming popular again. It is played by both Afghan men and women. Additionally, Afghans in the north of the country enjoy the sport of ]. The ] was founded in 1922, joined ] in 1948 and the ] (AFC) in 1954. Although it did not play in any international games from 1984 to 2003 due to the war, it is now striving and hoping to make it to FIFA. The ] was formed in 2007. The ], which was built during the reign of ] ], was once used for a venue for public executions by the Taliban government. The stadium is currently used mostly for football matches between teams from different provinces of the country as well as neighboring countries. ] has existed in Afghanistan since at least the 1970s, and is slowly becoming popular again. It is played by both Afghan men and women. Additionally, Afghans in the north of the country enjoy the sport of ].


== Clothing == == Clothing ==
{{Main|Pashtun dress}} {{Main|Pashtun dress}}
The country's traditional male clothing usually includes a ] (dress), ] (turban), ], ], ], ] (hats), and a ] (coat). Occasionally some men wear or wrap a ] on their heads. Traditional Afghan clothes vary by regions and sometimes ethnicity, as well as tribes. Most traditional Afghan attire for women consists of a long colorful dress with round skirt. Girls at a very young age begin to cover their hair with a very light colorful piece of ], many do this even while at home with their own family. The country's traditional male clothing usually includes a ] (dress), ] (turban), ], ], ], ] (hats), and a ] (coat). Occasionally some men wear or wrap a ] on their heads. Traditional Afghan clothes may sometimes vary by regions and in some cases by different ethnicities. Most traditional Afghan attire for women consists of a long colorful dress with round skirt. Girls at a very young age begin to cover their hair with a very light colorful piece of ], many do this even while at home with their own family.


== Education == == Education ==
{{Main|Education in Afghanistan}} {{Main|Education in Afghanistan}}
] in western Afghanistan.]] ] in western Afghanistan.]]
] includes ] and ], which is supervised by the ] and ] in ], ]. There are about 10,000 schools of which 4,000 were built in the last decade. More than 100,000 teachers were trained and recruited in the same period.<ref name="USAID-Education">{{cite web|url=http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/programs/education#Tab=Description |title=Education |work=|publisher=] (USAID)|accessdate=August 11, 2011}}</ref> It was reported in 2011 that more than seven million male and female students were enrolled in schools.<ref name="USAID-Education"/> Some of the well known schools in Kabul are ], ], ], ], and Rahman Baba High School. The popular high schools in ] are Ahmad Shah Baba High School and Zarghuna Anna High School. ] includes ] and ], which is supervised by the ] and ] in ], ]. There are about 10,000 schools of which 4,000 were built in the last decade. More than 100,000 teachers were trained and recruited in the same period.<ref name="USAID-Education">{{cite web|url=http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/programs/education#Tab=Description |title=Education |work=|publisher=] (USAID)|accessdate=August 11, 2011}}</ref> It was reported in 2011 that more than seven million male and female students were enrolled in schools.<ref name="USAID-Education"/> Some of the well known schools in Kabul are ], ], ], ], Ghazi High School and ]. The largest high schools in ] are Ahmad Shah Baba High School and Zarghuna Anna High School.


Since the country has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, the ] began establishing a number of Lincoln learning centers to help with this problem and promote American culture in Afghanistan. They are set up to serve as programming platforms offering English language classes, library facilities, programming venues, Internet connectivity, educational and other counseling services. A goal of the program is to reach at least 4,000 Afghan citizens per month per location.<ref>http://photos.state.gov/libraries/afghanistan/231771/PDFs/RFP-Lincoln-Learning-Centers.pdf</ref><ref> Since the country has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, the United States began establishing a number of Lincoln learning centers to help with this problem and promote American culture in Afghanistan. They are set up to serve as programming platforms offering English language classes, library facilities, programming venues, Internet connectivity, educational and other counseling services. A goal of the program is to reach at least 4,000 Afghan citizens per month per location.<ref>http://photos.state.gov/libraries/afghanistan/231771/PDFs/RFP-Lincoln-Learning-Centers.pdf</ref><ref>
http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2010/09/ghazni-gov-lincoln-learning-center.html</ref> The military and national police are now provided with mandatory literacy courses.<ref>http://www.army.mil/article/59541/Rising_literacy_in_Afghanistan_ensures_transition/</ref> In addition to this, ] (based on the American ]) was launched in late 2011 to help Afghan children learn from ] and onward. Programs in the show "will be partly filmed in Afghanistan with the rest" lifted from other versions in ] including ] and ], as well as ] and ].<ref name=Farmer>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/8926319/Sesame-Street-to-be-broadcast-in-Afghanistan.html |title=Sesame Street to be broadcast in Afghanistan |publisher=] |first=Ben |last=Farmer |location=Kabul |date=November 30, 2011 |accessdate=December 5, 2011}}</ref><ref name=AWN>{{cite news |url=http://www.awn.com/news/television/sesame-street-debut-afghanistan |title=Sesame Street To Debut In Afghanistan |first=Rick |last=DeMott |publisher=AWN News |date=December 1, 2011 |accessdate=December 5, 2011}}</ref> http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2010/09/ghazni-gov-lincoln-learning-center.html</ref> The military and national police are now provided with mandatory literacy courses.<ref>http://www.army.mil/article/59541/Rising_literacy_in_Afghanistan_ensures_transition/</ref> In addition to this, ] (based on the American ]) was launched in late 2011 to help Afghan children learn from ] and onward. Programs in the show "will be partly filmed in Afghanistan with the rest" lifted from other versions in ] including ] and ], as well as ] and ].<ref name=Farmer>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/8926319/Sesame-Street-to-be-broadcast-in-Afghanistan.html |title=Sesame Street to be broadcast in Afghanistan |publisher=] |first=Ben |last=Farmer |location=Kabul |date=November 30, 2011 |accessdate=December 5, 2011}}</ref><ref name=AWN>{{cite news |url=http://www.awn.com/news/television/sesame-street-debut-afghanistan |title=Sesame Street To Debut In Afghanistan |first=Rick |last=DeMott |publisher=AWN News |date=December 1, 2011 |accessdate=December 5, 2011}}</ref>


Higher education is provided by about ] in the country, which includes the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and a heap of others. There is also one ], located in Kabul. Recently with help from ], over 1,000 women have taken the university entrance exam. As of 2011, about 62,000 students are enrolled in different universities around the country.<ref name="USAID-Education"/> Higher education is provided by about ] throughout the country, which includes ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and a heap of others. There is also one ], located in Kabul. Recently with help from ], over 1,000 women have taken the university entrance exam. As of 2011, about 62,000 students are enrolled in different universities around the country.<ref name="USAID-Education"/>


== Languages == == Languages ==
{{Main|Languages of Afghanistan}} {{Main|Languages of Afghanistan}}
] and ] are both the official ], although Dari serves as the lingua franca for the majority. People in the northern and central areas of the country usually speak ], while those living in the south and east speak Pashto. Afghans living in the western regions of Afghanistan speak both Persian and Pashto. Most citizens are fluent in both languages, especially those living in major cities where the population is multi-ethnic. Several other languages are spoken in their own regions, which includes ], ] and ]. Also to note that about 10% of the population (]) are also able to speak and understand ], which is the national language of Pakistan. Notably there are a vast amount of Afghans who can speak and understand Russian since it is an inter communicating tool used in Afghanistan as well as other Central Asian Countries. ] is understood by very small percentage of the population although it is growing. Smaller number may understand other Western languages such as ] and ]. ] and ] are both the official ],<ref name=AO/> although Dari serves as the lingua franca for the majority. People in the northern and central areas of the country usually speak ], while those living in the south and east speak Pashto. Afghans living in the western regions of Afghanistan speak both Persian and Pashto. Most citizens are fluent in both languages, especially those living in major cities where the population is multi-ethnic. Several other languages are spoken in their own regions, which includes ], ] and ].<ref name=AO>{{cite web|title=Article Sixteen of the Constitution of Afghanistan|url=http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html#preamble |quote=From among the languages of Pashto, Dari, Uzbeki, Turkmani, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, Pamiri (alsana), Arab and other languages spoken in the country, '''Pashto and Dari are the official languages of the state.'''|year=2004 |accessdate=June 13, 2012}}</ref> Large percent of Afghans, particularly the Pashtuns and Hazaras, learned ] while living in ] since 1979 and due to having connection to that country. There are some Afghans who can speak Russian, mainly among the northern Tajik, Uzbek and Turkmen groups. English is understood by small percent of the population although it is growing. A more smaller number may understand other Western languages such as ] and ].


== Religion == == Religion ==
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== Housing == == Housing ==
] in rural Afghanistan are traditionally made out of ], and have a series of rooms located around a private rectangular courtyard where women and children play, cook and socialize. Married sons share the same house as their parents in most cases, although they have separate quarters. Afghan houses contain a special room where men socialize with each other known as a ''hujra''. In the cities, many Afghans live in modern style houses or ]. There are many new housing schemes being built in all the major cities of the country. Some of these include the {{nowrap|$35 bn}} ''New Kabul City'' next to the capital, the ''Ghazi Amanullah Khan City'' near Jalalabad, and the ''Aino Mena'' in Kandahar.<ref></ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.najeebzarab.af/town_main.php |title=Ghazi Amanullah Khan City |year=2009 |publisher=najeebzarab.af |accessdate=2011-08-15}}</ref><ref></ref> The ] ] live in large tents because they are constantly on the move.<ref></ref> ] in rural Afghanistan are traditionally made out of ], and have a series of rooms located around a private rectangular courtyard where women and children play, cook and socialize. Married sons share the same house as their parents in most cases, although they have separate quarters. Afghan houses contain a special room where men socialize with each other known as a ''hujra''. In the cities, many Afghans live in modern style houses or ]. There are many new housing schemes being built in all the major cities of the country. Some of these include the {{nowrap|$35 bn}} ''New Kabul City'' next to the capital, the ''Ghazi Amanullah Khan City'' near Jalalabad, and the ''Aino Mina'' in Kandahar.<ref></ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.najeebzarab.af/town_main.php |title=Ghazi Amanullah Khan City |year=2009 |publisher=najeebzarab.af |accessdate=2011-08-15}}</ref><ref></ref> The ] ] live in large tents because they are constantly on the move from one part of the country to another.<ref></ref>


== Holidays == == Holidays ==

Revision as of 11:08, 23 October 2012

The 2011 Afghan Youth Voices Festival at the Gardens of Babur in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The culture of Afghanistan has been around for over two millenniums, tracing record to at least the time of the Achaemenid Empire in 500 BCE. Afghanistan translates to "Land of the Afghans" or "Place of Afghans" in the nation's official languages, Pashto and Dari. It is mostly a rural and tribal society, with different regions of the country having their own tradition, reflecting the multi-ethnic and multi-lingual character of the nation. Despite some differences, majority of the Afghans live the same. For example, they all practice Islam, live in the same type of houses, dress the same, eat the same food, listen to the same music, and are usually fluent in both major languages of the country.

In the southern and eastern region, as well as western Pakistan which was historically part of Afghanistan, the Pashtun people live according to the Pashtun culture by following Pashtunwali (way of the Pashtuns). The western, northern, and central regions of Afghanistan are influenced by neighboring Central Asian and Persian cultures. Some of the non-Pashtuns who live in close proximity with Pashtuns have adopted Pashtunwali in a process called Pashtunization (or Afghanization) while some Pashtuns and others became Persianized.

Art and music

See also: Music of Afghanistan
Women painting at the Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan (CCAA) in Kabul.

Local art has spanned many centuries. One of the most famous kinds is the Gandhara art between the 1st and 7th century based on Greco-Buddhist art. Since the 1900s, the nation began to use Western techniques in art. Afghanistan's art was originally almost entirely done by men, but recently women are entering the arts programs at Kabul University. Art is largely centered at the National Museum of Afghanistan, the National Gallery of Afghanistan and the National Archives of Afghanistan in Kabul. There are a number of art schools in the country. The Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan (CCAA) in Kabul provides young people to learn contemporary paintings.

Afghan musicians in Farah, Afghanistan.

Traditionally, only men have been involved in theater acting. Recently, in theater arts, women have begun to take center stage. Afghanistan holds the 47th largest club in the Middle East, the Jiffa Zayin, with a capacity of 180.

Other known forms of art in the country are music, poetry, and several sports. The art of making carpets has been prominent for centuries. Afghanistan is known for making beautiful oriental rugs. The Afghan carpet has certain prints that make them unique to Afghanistan.

Since the 1980s, the nation has witnessed several wars so music has been suppressed and recording for outsiders minimal. During the 1990s, the Taliban government banned instrumental music and much public music-making. Many musicians and singers continued to play their trade in the cities of other countries. Pakistani cities such as Peshawar, Karachi and Islamabad are important centers for the distribution of Afghan music. Kabul has long been the regional cultural capital, but outsiders have tended to focus on the cities of Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif with its Qataghaani style. Lyrics across the country are typically in both Dari (Persian) and Pashto. Hindi songs from Bollywood films are also very popular in Afghanistan.

Afghan men performing at the new Afghan Cultural Center on Camp Leatherneck in Helmand Province.

Afghans enjoy music by playing many types of instruments. They also enjoy performing the Attan, which is considered the national dance of Afghanistan. What is typically heard in the country are folk songs or ballads. Many of the songs are known by almost everyone and have been around for many years. The main traditional Afghan music instruments includes:

Poetry and philosophy

Main article: Poetry of Afghanistan

Poetry in Afghanistan has long been a cultural tradition and passion. It is mainly in Dari and Pashto languages, although in modern times it is also becoming more recognized in Afghanistan's other languages. Classic Persian and Pashto poetry plays an important role in the Afghan culture. Poetry has always been one of the major educational pillars in the region, to the level that it has integrated itself into culture. Some notable poets include Rumi, Khushal Khan Khattak, Rahman Baba, Massoud Nawabi, Nazo Tokhi, Ahmad Shah Durrani, Al-Afghani, and Ghulam Muhammad Tarzi. Many of the famous Persian poets and authors from the 10th to 15th centuries stem from Khorasan (now part of Afghanistan), such as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī (Rumi), Rabi'a Balkhi, Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, Nasir Khusraw, Jami, Alisher Navoi, Sanai, Abu Mansur Daqiqi, Farrukhi Sistani, Unsuri, Anvari, and many others. Moreover, some of the contemporary Persian language poets and writers, who are relatively well known in the Persian-speaking world, include Khalilullah Khalili, Sufi Ashqari, Sarwar Joya, Qahar Asey, and Parwin Pazhwak.

In addition to poets and authors, numerous Persian scientists and philosophers were born or worked in the region of Afghanistan. Most notable was Avicenna, whose paternal family hailed from Balkh. Ibn Sīnā, who travelled to Isfahan later in life to establish a medical school there, is known by some scholars as "the father of modern medicine". George Sarton called Ibn Sīnā "the most famous scientist of Islam and one of the most famous of all races, places, and times." His most famous works are The Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine, also known as the Qanun. Ibn Sīnā's story even found ways to the contemporary English literature through Noah Gordon's The Physician, now published in many languages. Al-Farabi was another well-known philosopher and scientist of the 9th and 10th centuries, who, according to Ibn al-Nadim, was from the Faryab Province in Afghanistan. Other notable scientists and philosophers are Abu Rayhan Biruni (astronomer, anthropologist, geographer, and mathematician), Abu Zayd Balkhi (polymath and a student of al-Kindi), Abu Ma'shar Balkhi (known as Albuxar in the west), and Abu Sa'id Sijzi.

Architecture

The region has made major contributions to the world, architecture. UNESCO has acknowledged Afghanistan's role by declaring the Minaret of Jam and the Valley of Bamiyan, home of the famous Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban, World Heritage Sites.

Other examples of universally important contributions to architecture may be found in Herat, Mazari Sharif and Ghazni. Kandahar

Cuisine

Main article: Afghan cuisine

Afghanistan has a wide varying landscape allowing for many different crops. Afghan food is largely based upon cereals like wheat, maize, barley and rice, which are the nation's chief crops. Afghanistan is well known for its grapes.

A table setting of Afghan food in Kabul.
Afghan men feasting on palao in the Kunar Province.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Afghanistan
Afghan Olympic Committee in the 1930s in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The sports in Afghanistan are run by the Afghan Sports Federation, which promotes football, cricket, basketball, volleyball, golf, handball, boxing, taekwondo, track and field, bowling, skating, chess, and other sports.

Cricket and football are the most popular sports in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan national cricket team, which was formed in 2001, has held matches against all other international cricket teams. The Afghan team rapidly rose through the World Cricket League since early 2008. It participated in the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier, 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division One, and 2010 ICC World Twenty20 where they played India and South Africa. The team won the ACC Twenty20 Cup in 2007, 2009, and 2011. It played against top ranking teams in the 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. In the national level, cricket matches are played between provinces, mainly between the south and eastern provinces of the country. In the other sports, Afghans usually play with challengers of neighboring states and sometimes with other Asian countries.

The Afghanistan national football team was founded in 1922, joined FIFA in 1948 and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954. Although it did not play in any international games from 1984 to 2003 due to the war, it is now striving and hoping to make it to FIFA. The Afghanistan women's national football team was formed in 2007. The Ghazi Stadium, which was built during the reign of King Amanullah Khan, was once used for a venue for public executions by the Taliban government. The stadium is currently used mostly for football matches between teams from different provinces of the country as well as neighboring countries. Basketball has existed in Afghanistan since at least the 1970s, and is slowly becoming popular again. It is played by both Afghan men and women. Additionally, Afghans in the north of the country enjoy the sport of buzkashi.

Clothing

Main article: Pashtun dress

The country's traditional male clothing usually includes a salwar kameez (dress), lungee (turban), karakul, pakol, topi, kufi (hats), and a chapan (coat). Occasionally some men wear or wrap a keffiyeh on their heads. Traditional Afghan clothes may sometimes vary by regions and in some cases by different ethnicities. Most traditional Afghan attire for women consists of a long colorful dress with round skirt. Girls at a very young age begin to cover their hair with a very light colorful piece of cloth, many do this even while at home with their own family.

Education

Main article: Education in Afghanistan
Students standing in front of the main campus of Herat University in western Afghanistan.

Education in Afghanistan includes K-12 and higher education, which is supervised by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education in Kabul, Afghanistan. There are about 10,000 schools of which 4,000 were built in the last decade. More than 100,000 teachers were trained and recruited in the same period. It was reported in 2011 that more than seven million male and female students were enrolled in schools. Some of the well known schools in Kabul are Habibia High School, Lycée Esteqlal, Amani High School, Aisha-i-Durani School, Ghazi High School and Rahman Baba High School. The largest high schools in Kandahar are Ahmad Shah Baba High School and Zarghuna Anna High School.

Since the country has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, the United States began establishing a number of Lincoln learning centers to help with this problem and promote American culture in Afghanistan. They are set up to serve as programming platforms offering English language classes, library facilities, programming venues, Internet connectivity, educational and other counseling services. A goal of the program is to reach at least 4,000 Afghan citizens per month per location. The military and national police are now provided with mandatory literacy courses. In addition to this, Baghch-e-Simsim (based on the American Sesame Street) was launched in late 2011 to help Afghan children learn from preschool and onward. Programs in the show "will be partly filmed in Afghanistan with the rest" lifted from other versions in Muslim countries including Egypt and Bangladesh, as well as Mexico and Russia.

Higher education is provided by about 43 universities throughout the country, which includes American University of Afghanistan, Kabul University, Polytechnical University of Kabul, Herat University, Balkh University, Nangarhar University, Kandahar University, Khost University, Bakhtar University, and a heap of others. There is also one military college, located in Kabul. Recently with help from UNESCO, over 1,000 women have taken the university entrance exam. As of 2011, about 62,000 students are enrolled in different universities around the country.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Afghanistan

Pashto and Dari are both the official languages of Afghanistan, although Dari serves as the lingua franca for the majority. People in the northern and central areas of the country usually speak Persian, while those living in the south and east speak Pashto. Afghans living in the western regions of Afghanistan speak both Persian and Pashto. Most citizens are fluent in both languages, especially those living in major cities where the population is multi-ethnic. Several other languages are spoken in their own regions, which includes Uzbek, Turkmen and Balochi. Large percent of Afghans, particularly the Pashtuns and Hazaras, learned Urdu while living in Pakistan since 1979 and due to having connection to that country. There are some Afghans who can speak Russian, mainly among the northern Tajik, Uzbek and Turkmen groups. English is understood by small percent of the population although it is growing. A more smaller number may understand other Western languages such as German and French.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Afghanistan
The shrine of Hazrat Ali (Blue Mosque) in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Islam is the main religion of Afghanistan and over 99% of Afghans are Muslims. Approximately 80-89% of the population practice Sunni Islam, while the remaining 10-19% practice Shi'a Islam, and 1% followers of other religions. Besides Muslims, there are 1000's of Sikhs and Hindus living in the country. They are usually found in the major cities such as Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, and Jalalabad.

Housing

Houses in rural Afghanistan are traditionally made out of mud, and have a series of rooms located around a private rectangular courtyard where women and children play, cook and socialize. Married sons share the same house as their parents in most cases, although they have separate quarters. Afghan houses contain a special room where men socialize with each other known as a hujra. In the cities, many Afghans live in modern style houses or apartments. There are many new housing schemes being built in all the major cities of the country. Some of these include the $35 bn New Kabul City next to the capital, the Ghazi Amanullah Khan City near Jalalabad, and the Aino Mina in Kandahar. The nomadic kuchi people live in large tents because they are constantly on the move from one part of the country to another.

Holidays

President Hamid Karzai observing the honor guard of the Afghan armed forces during the 2011 Afghan Independence Day.

Religious

See also: Islamic Holiday

Afghanistan's religious holidays are nearly the same as Islamic holidays. Some of the most important include Eid ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan), Eid ul-Adha, Ashura, and Mawlid. Religious minorities of Afghanistan, such as the Hindus, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and others celebrate holidays unique to their respective religion.

National and traditional

Other

See also

References

  1. "The Afghans - Their History and Culture". Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi. United States: Center for Applied Linguistics. June 30, 2002. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  2. ^ "Country Profile: Afghanistan" (PDF). Library of Congress Country Studies on Afghanistan. August 2008. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  3. Banting, Erinn (2003). Afghanistan: The land. Cpage=rabtree Publishing Company. p. 32. ISBN 0-7787-9335-4. Retrieved 2010-08-22. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Text "4" ignored (help)
  4. "Language and Literacy". Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi. United States: Center for Applied Linguistics. June 30, 2002. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  5. US Library of Congress: Afghanistan - Ethnic Groups (Pashtun)
  6. "The People". Barbara Robson, Juliene Lipson, Farid Younos, Mariam Mehdi. United States: Center for Applied Linguistics. June 30, 2002. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  7. "MAPS: AFGHANISTAN'S ETHNO-LINGUISTIC GROUPS". Institute For The Study Of War. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  8. "Map showing ethnolinguistics groups of Afghanistan". National Geographic Society. 2003. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  9. The Christian Science Monitor: Risky revival of Afghan theater puts women center stage
  10. "It's Bollywood all the way in Afghanistan". The Hindu. Retrieved 2007–03–25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. http://www.afghanistan-culture.com/afghanistan-music.html
  12. Classical Dari and Pashto Poets
  13. Afghanmagazine.com – Ustad Khalilullah Khalili – 1997.
  14. Afghanmagazine.com – Kharaabat – by Yousef Kohzad – 2000.
  15. SPACH: Society for the Preservation of Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage
  16. "Sports". Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
  17. ^ "Education". United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  18. http://photos.state.gov/libraries/afghanistan/231771/PDFs/RFP-Lincoln-Learning-Centers.pdf
  19. http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2010/09/ghazni-gov-lincoln-learning-center.html
  20. http://www.army.mil/article/59541/Rising_literacy_in_Afghanistan_ensures_transition/
  21. Farmer, Ben (November 30, 2011). "Sesame Street to be broadcast in Afghanistan". Kabul: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  22. DeMott, Rick (December 1, 2011). "Sesame Street To Debut In Afghanistan". AWN News. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  23. ^ "Article Sixteen of the Constitution of Afghanistan". 2004. Retrieved June 13, 2012. From among the languages of Pashto, Dari, Uzbeki, Turkmani, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, Pamiri (alsana), Arab and other languages spoken in the country, Pashto and Dari are the official languages of the state.
  24. "Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population". Pew Research Center. October 7, 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  25. Miller, Tracy, ed. (October 2009). Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population (PDF). Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  26. "Afghanistan". Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The World Factbook. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  27. Hinduism Today: Hindus Abandon Afghanistan
  28. BBC South Asia: Sikhs struggle in Afghanistan
  29. DCDA - the Kabul New City Official Website
  30. "Ghazi Amanullah Khan City". najeebzarab.af. 2009. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
  31. Case study: Aino Mina
  32. Cultural Profiles Project: Afghanistan Family Life
  33. Afghanistan Online: Culture - Important holidays/occasions/festivities celebrated in Afghanistan
  34. Afghan Hindus and Sikhs

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