Join us at 6pm for the closing of the Festival of Afghan Culture and Cuisine, with a concert of traditional music from the court and folk repertoires, featuring instrumental pieces and songs

The concert will be followed by a short Q&A.

Book for both Talks and Concert at the same time and pay only £20!

John Baily will be on the rubab and dutar (types of Afghan lute)

Veronica Doubleday will be on vocals and daireh (frame drum)

Sulaiman will be on haqpana tabla drums

About the artists

Between 1973 and 1977 John Baily and Veronica Doubleday lived in Herat, in western Afghanistan, where they studied with local musicians and undertook detailed ethnomusicological research. Until recently, John was Emeritus Professor of Ethnomusicology, and Head of the Afghanistan Music Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London, and author of several important books on Afghan music. Veronica is known for her acclaimed memoir, Three Women of Herat, and other publications on Afghan women’s music. As a duo, or working with other noted Afghan musicians, they have given concerts all around the world.

Sulaiman Haqpana is from a Herati family. He learned to play tabla in Pakistan, following his family’s migration there in the 1990s. He has seven years of professional experience working for the United Nations and international NGOs in Afghanistan and has just become an academic Doctor from Brunel University’s Department of Education. He has previously performed in concerts at the British Museum, SOAS University, the House of Commons, and Oxford’s Holywell Music Room.