Afghan Girl EP released on the anniversary of the fall of Kabul, 15th August
Afghan and Irish songwriting duo, Zarifa & Eva record three songs at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios.
On the 15th August 2021 the world collapsed for Afghan people when the Taliban came back into power. For women and girls, it was their worst nightmare.
Zarifa Asghari and her siblings managed to get out of Afghanistan and relocate in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Due to a ban on music and creative expression and the oppression of women and girls by the regime, Zarifa did not know she had a very special gift.
Through a music project with organisations Beyond Skin, Feile and Oh Yeah Zarifa had her first opportunity to engage in a music project. Although Zarifa had no previous experience in playing an instrument or singing she took her hand to songwriting and wrote her first song “Afghan Girl”
Eva, a singer and songwriter from Lurgan had already started a music career under the name Aqua Tofana with her partner Nolan Donelly. When Darren from Beyond Skin introduced Zarifa and Eva to each other a creative magic spark happened.
Putting the music to Afghan Girl lyrics, Eva and Zarifa performed at various events until an opportunity presented itself to record at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studies.
This was made possible through Beyond Skin funders, WOMAD Foundation, Bernard Nevill Family and Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund.
Three songs were recorded at Real World Studios, released online 15th August 2025.
Zarifa said about the song and experience
“It was a mix of feeling, because I didn’t know what to expect there and also, I didn’t know how famous it is. I don’t really like to do research on places that I go as I think it might ruin the excitement that I get at that time that I’m there or it might also make me anxious once I’m there. ‘Afghan Girl’ song is very important and meaningful to me as I wrote it with my own feelings and a part of other Afghan girl’s pain. I tried to express all my feelings in the song so that people could feel it, but it’s difficult because sometimes you have feelings that you can’t describe or recognise. I wrote it with love, hope, pain and sadness”
Eva Kearney shared her thoughts
“The Afghan Girl project has taught me a lot. Not only about the suffering that many Afghan women and girls have endured since the Taliban took over again after the US military left in 2021. A lot of these women were forced into child marriages, not allowed to go outside without a male present, no education, no speaking nor singing, no art, no creativity, no freedom. As a woman that sings for a living and dances as often as I can, a woman that is loud, outspoken and unapologetic about how I feel or express myself - this hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew I wanted to help, to be a part of this project because I think we here in Northern Ireland take our freedom for granted. Having dismissed the importance of our education system in the past, being around these women has inspired me to think twice about this. I am so very blessed to have met Zarifa and Darren, it has changed my world in so many ways and I’m very thankful that they trusted me with Zarifa and many other Afghan girls' story. I hope I did it justice.”
Working with Zarifa and Eva at Real World to produce the EP were, Nolan Donelly, producer Mark Smulian, engineer Bob Mackenzie and assistant engineer Maisy Preece.
The Afghan Girl EP is available to download from Beyond Skin Bandcamp platform.
AFGHAN GIRL AT REAL WORLD BLOG
For more information contact info.beyondskin@gmail.com
Afghanistan remains the worst place in the world for women and girls, having no rights under gender apartheid. Forced child marriages are common and there is still a ban on music by the regime.
----------------------------
