Kabul: Afghan Music Meets Nordic Folk and Jazz
Afghan music met Nordic folk and jazz when Hamid Sakhizada and Fribyorkesteret brought Kabul to Harstad and Tromsø from 30 January to 2 February 2026.
Sakhizada’s compositions draw on his roots in Hazara folk music and take inspiration from Kabul’s history as a meeting place along the Silk Road. On stage, his singing and dambura, a traditional string instrument, were joined by an eight-member Nordic ensemble.
The public concerts were part of ILIOS Festival for New Music in Harstad and Nordlysfestivalen in Tromsø. At Arena Nord-Norge, the ensemble also played for 74 pupils from two local schools, bringing the production to a younger audience.
Scene Nord coordinated the performances with the two festivals as part of Arctic Pulse, co-funded by Interreg Aurora.
About Arctic Pulse
The performances were part of Arctic Pulse, the shared external brand of Arctic Music Circles, an Interreg Aurora project supporting cross-border music collaboration in northern Sweden, Finland and Norway.
The project works to strengthen the music scene in the Arctic region by creating new connections, increasing visibility and building long-term collaboration across borders.