For Aryana Sayeed, one of Afghanistan's biggest pop stars, making and performing her music means putting her life on the line. Sayeed has been the target of harassment and death threats from conservative extremists within Afghan society since her rise to fame in 2008. Broadly sat down with the singer to discuss some of her recent controversies and why she continues to risk her safety for her art."I try to sing songs dedicated to women in Afghanistan," she tells us. "I try to send my message across and fight for their rights." It's this feminist message that has catapulted Sayeed into the eye of controversy back home in Afghanistan, she explains. For safety reasons, she lives in London with her mother and sisters now, returning home frequently to perform.Late this summer, Sayeed had planned a performance at the Ghazi Stadium in Kabul, a venue that was once used by the Taliban to execute women in the 90s. "I wanted to bring a new face to that stadium," she tells Broadly. "I wanted it to be remembered as a positive [place] now." The singer brings us to the notorious stadium, but following a series of threats, the government alerted her that they didn't believe they could adequately secure the venue for her performance, and they subsequently cancelled her show.
Despite the protest of conservative leaders in Afghanistan, Sayeed was able to successfully move the performance to a nearby hotel. Because the criticism of these leaders, or mullahs, is usually effective, she considers the show a great victory. Broadly attended the concert, filled with female fans waving Afghan flags, where the mood reflected that victorious feeling. "With this concert, we definitely made history," Sayeed tells us. "I feel as an Afghan—as a woman—I feel responsible. If I can do something through my career, why not?"Read More: Facing Death Threats, Afghanistan's First Female Conductor Plays On