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Playing for Freedom
- The Journey of a Young Afghan Girl
- Narrated by: Zarifa Adiba
- Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
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Playing for Freedom
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Summary
A passionate musician growing up in the war-torn streets of Kabul takes her forbidden talents abroad in this triumphant memoir from debut author Zarifa Adiba.
As an Afghan girl, Zarifa Adiba has big, unfathomable dreams. Her family is poor, her country mired in conflict. Walking to school in Kabul, Zarifa has to navigate suicide bombers.
But Zarifa perseveres, nurturing her passion for music despite its “sinful” nature under Taliban law. At sixteen she gains admission to the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, and at eighteen she becomes the lead violist, co-conductor, and spokesperson for Zohra, the first all-female orchestra in the Muslim world.
Despite Zarifa’s accomplishments—which include a stunning performance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland—her future in music demands a reckoning with her life back home. Many of the girls in Zohra are forced to marry, but Zarifa yearns to study, travel, and explore her independence. Her so-called “bad girl” identity puts her at odds with her culture and her family.
Playing for Freedom is the deeply compelling story of a woman who dares to compose a masterpiece even with all odds stacked against her.
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Critic reviews
“Adiba passionately supports education for all girls…Her unpretentious, earnest style as she recounts her life story with a matter-of-fact tone is as endearing as it is engaging. A must-have for any collection, especially in school and academic libraries. This memoir celebrates the power of one young woman to make a difference by speaking up and daring to be herself.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“Adiba writes with feeling and genuine pride in herself and her Afghan cultural heritage, and will touch the heart of anyone spending time in her company.” —Booklist
“Inherently fascinating and providing insight into the present day plight of girls and women under the Taliban. [A] deeply compelling story of a young woman who dares to compose a masterpiece even with all odds stacked against her. The deeply personal and exceptionally well presented memoir of a passionate young female musician growing up in the war-torn streets of Kabul who was able takes her forbidden talents abroad is especially and unreservedly recommended…” —Midwest Book Review