Week of October 24, 2009
Afghan StarHavana Marking (right), director of the new documentary Afghan Star, with Rafi Naabzada, the singer who won the TV talent contest. Photo courtesy of www.AfghanStarDocumentary.com.
Description
For a generation, singing in public has been outlawed in Afghanistan. So a show like "American Idol" would be a long shot to succeed there. But that’s exactly what has happened.
Despite most Afghans not even owning a television set, the TV talent contest called "Afghan Star" has taken the country by storm. Film director Havana Marking captured what happened during the show’s first season in a new documentary. She talks with host Peggy Wehmeyer.