- AfghanStar
AfghanStar is a
popular reality television show which searches for the most talented young singer inAfghanistan . The program is broadcast on the AfghaniTolo TV channel.Format
The format of AfghanStar is similar to the British "
Pop Idol " or the French "Nouvelle Star " and their many spinoffs, though it is independently produced and not a licensedadaptation . The program starts with auditions from aspiring singers in their late teens and early 20s. A panel of judges choose the best auditionees and puts them through to the public voting round of the contest. At this stage, each week every singer performs and the public vote on which singer they prefer. In every round, whoever gets the lowest amount of votes leaves the competition until just one is left, who is declared the winner.First season
The first series of AfghanStar was launched in September 2005, with over 1000 hopefuls from around Afghanistan gathering to partake in the talent search. The eventual winner of the series was
Shakeb Hamdard fromKabul who released his debut album "Mashalla" in late 2007. [ [http://afghanstar.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26 afghanstar.tv - Original Series ] ]econd season
AfghanStar (Season 2) started in August 2006 with auditions in Kabul,
Mazar ,Herat ,Kandahar ,Jalalabad andPeshawar . The talent net was widened with even Afghans fromPakistan andIran encouraged to participate. The second AfghanStar was even more successful than the first, withNajibullah Mahmoudi from Mazar voted the winner. Najibullah Mahmoudi has signed a recording contract withBarbud Music , the same company who release Shakeb Hamdard's music. [ [http://afghanstar.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26 afghanstar.tv - Original Series ] ]Third season
The third season of AfghanStar debuted in October 2007. Auditions were held in
Kunduz andGhanzi as well as cities visited in previous series. AfghanStar becomes one of the most watched, and talked about shows on Afghan television, regularly attracting 11 million viewers per episode. The high profile of the show meant hightenedsecurity was introduced around the studios and contestants of the show. The eventual winner of the third series of AfghanStar wasRafi Naabzada , once again from Mazar. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7262967.stm BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Afghanistan's Pop Idol breaks barriers ] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7309029.stm BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Afghan Pop Idol winner declared ] ]Host and judges
*
Daoud Sediqi the host of AfghanStar, has involved with a number of musical programs as a DJ onArman FM and as a presenter on Tolo TV. He has been the host of Afghan Star in all three seasons to date and is one of the most recognised faces in Afghanistan [ [http://afghanstar.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=45 afghanstar.tv - Daoud Sediqi ] ]*
Ustad Gulzaman has been a judge on Afghan Star since series one. He is renowned in the music industry in Afghanistan specialising inPashto songs, and has been recognised as anUstad in music. He is also an accomplished composer [ [http://afghanstar.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=26&Itemid=45 afghanstar.tv - Host and Judges ] ]*
Baryalai Wali has graduated from the Economic Faculty ofKabul University and has been a judge of Afghan Star since series two [ [http://afghanstar.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=26&Itemid=45 afghanstar.tv - Host and Judges ] ]*
Monesa Sherzad Hassan has been a judge on AfghanStar since series two. She is the only female judge. Monesa Sherzad Hassan is a graduate in Diplomacy, Political Science, German literature and language studies. She is currently a doctor in Kabul. [ [http://afghanstar.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=45 afghanstar.tv - Monesa Sherzad Hassan ] ]*
Nazir Khara has been a judge on AfghanStar since series three. As well as teaching music in Kabul, Nazir Khara is also an accomplished composer and singer. He has created a studio called "The Recording Studio of Nazir Khara" which is made available to young people for their recording purposes. Nazir Khara has released a number of songs which are musically locally inspired. "Dar Nagufta" and "Bosa" are two of his most popular albums. [ [http://afghanstar.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=45 afghanstar.tv - Nazir Khara ] ]References
External links
* [http://afghanstar.tv/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 AfghanStar official website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7262967.stm BBC news article on AfghanStar]
* [http://www.barbudmusic.com/ Barbud Music (record company of AfghanStar winners Shakeb Hamdard & Najibullah Mahmoudi)]
* [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1725113,00.html Time magazine article on AfghanStar]
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