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Goethe-Institut im Exil

Focus on Afghanistan

Goethe-Institut Afghanistan Foto: Bernhard Ludewig © Goethe-Institut

Reopened in 2003, the Goethe-Institut Afghanistan supported the then still existing cultural scene in its reconstruction and promoted the emergence of new cultural practices. The institute was severely damaged by an attack in 2017 and subsequently had to cease operations. Since the Taliban took power in 2021, the current situation in Afghanistan is extremely difficult: the country is isolated and women are largely banned from public life. The return of the Taliban has also been devastating for artists.

Images of Taliban fighters burning musical instruments and artists destroying their own artwork out of fear went around the world. Cultural practitioners in Afghanistan and in the diaspora continue to try to be artistically active. While some cultural workers have managed to leave the country, others are still waiting for the opportunity to flee.

The Goethe-Institut in Exile will dedicate the second half of 2023 to Afghanistan's cultural scene and give Afghan cultural workers a stage.

Review country focus Afghanistan

In the second half of 2023, the Goethe-Institut in Exile dedicated itself to Afghanistan's cultural scene. This new country focus was opened with a festival (30 June - 2 July 2023). During the three-day festival, elements of traditional and contemporary culture as well as current discourses of the diaspora were addressed. One focus was on making Afghanistan's diverse female and diverse art and cultural production visible.

Here you can find selected content on the country focus Afghanistan.

Спявачка Элага Сарур стаіць на сцэне і спявае, яе група акампануе ёй. Foto: Ksenia Yanko © Goethe-Institut im Exil

Goethe-Institut Afghanistan /
Short profile

Facade of the former Goethe-Instituts in Kabul © Goethe-Institut The Goethe-Institut Kabul, founded in 1965, had to cease its activities in 1991 before the invasion of the Mujahideen. Until its closure, the Goethe-Institut Kabul was a well-known and popular place for meetings, exchange and cultural events.
Inner courtyard Goethe-Institut Afghanistan Foto: Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
After the end of the first Taliban regime in 2001, the first on-site research for the resumption of work began in February 2002. In September 2003, the Institute was reopened in the former residence of the then GDR Embassy. With the occupation of its own building and the secondment of additional staff, the Institute resumed its activities in all areas o

Workshop Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut The Goethe-Institut Afghanistan supported the then still existing cultural scene in its reconstruction and also promoted the emergence of new cultural practices - for example, the fields of contemporary literature, animated films and puppet theatre.

The institute was located on the grounds of the German Embassy. In an attack on it in 2017, the institute was severely damaged and had to stop work as a result. The Taliban have been in power again since 15 August 2021.

 

»Currently, culture lives on only in the cage of ideology«

Interview with Ibrahim Hotak

Ibrahim Hotak was the last director of the Goethe-Institut Afghanistan and now works at the Goethe-Institut in Berlin. In 2005, he was living in Germany when an old acquaintance asked him why he had not returned to Afghanistan long ago to help build up the country. After the fall of the Taliban, there had been a spirit of optimism in Afghanistan since 2001, and so he too decided to move back to Afghanistan.

What did Afghanistan's cultural landscape look like after more than 20 years of war? Ibrahim Hotak provides insights into the cultural work of the Goethe-Institut during these years of change.

Impressions of the cultural work of that time

  • Literature Festival 2013 in Kabul. There, the writers Pakeza Arzoo, Scheima Ghafoori, Humaira Qaderi, Nilofar Langar and Mahmood Jafari spoke about the topic of women in literature. Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    The Goethe-Institut in Kabul promoted contemporary literature in particular, especially by women writers, as at the seventh literature festival in 2013, where the writers Pakeza Arzoo, Scheima Ghafoori, Humaira Qaderi, Nilofar Langar and Mahmood Jafari spoke on the topic of women in literature.
  • Poet and writer Alam Gul Sahar reads from his work in 2014 that explored the impact of war on literature. Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    In 2014, the 8th edition of the Contemporary Literature Festival took place. The poet and writer Alam Gul Sahar read from his latest work, which explored the impact of war on literature.
  • At several stands, one could browse through contemporary Afghan works. So did the writer Hamida Zala and the poet Parwin Malal. Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    At several stands, one could browse through contemporary Afghan works. So did the writer Hamida Zala and the poet Parwin Malal.
  • Exhibition view Caricatures Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    During the period of democratisation from 2001-2021, the country also opened up towards freedom of expression. In 2014, an exhibition of contemporary Afghan cartoons was held in Kabul.
  • Graffiti artist Shamsia Hassani paints a wall. Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    The young artist Shamsia Hassani painted the blast barriers that lined the path to the Goethe-Institut Kabul. Shamsia Hassani later became known as the first Afghan graffiti artist.
  • Musicians on stage Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    Groups of traditional music, for example a music group from the southern province of Helmand, also performed at the Goethe-Institut with tabla and rubab - the typical instruments from Afghanistan.
  • German teachers and staff of the Goethe-Institut Kabul at a training course Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    The Goethe-Institut in Kabul was also involved in language work, here in a training course for German teachers.
  • Children run towards a bookstall Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    There are children's books for free? Of course, no one wants to miss out on that! The snapshot impressively shows a running crowd of children at the Children's Literature Festival in Kabul.
  • Children and storyteller in a tent Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    At this festival, children's stories were told by actors.
  • Children at a bookstall Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    Current Dari and Paschto translations of German children's books were on display at the bookstall.
  • One actress and two actors on stage Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    Actors on stage
  • Students sit in groups at tables and learn together Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    The Goethe-Institut Kabul had cooperations with a total of 5 PASCH schools. Awakening interest and enthusiasm for Germany, motivating young people to learn German and creating a worldwide network of schools - these are the goals of the PASCH initiative. PASCH stands for "Schools: Partners for the Future".
  • Actors on stage Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    At the theatre festival, a theatre group performed a play on the topic of corruption. Among other things, the play was about fighting corruption.
  • Actors on stage Masoud Hotak © Goethe-Institut
    The art form of puppet theatre was also promoted by the Goethe-Institut, especially through a cooperation with the Ernst Busch Akademie. Nasir Formuli, Homan Wesa, [names persons] performed a play based on the book "The story of the lion who could not write" by Martin Baltscheit.

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