Music is a communication activity essential to all cultures. It gives a group of people a way to express things such as moods and emotions or even religious and political beliefs. The importance of music to Afghan culture is expressed in The Kite Runner: “We just wanted to hear Ali sing. He cleared his throat and began: On a high mountain I stood, And cried out the name of Ali, Lion of God. O Ali, Lion of God, King of Men, Bring joy to our afflicted hearts” (Hosseini 11). Despite its importance in society, the Taliban considered music to be against Islam. Part of their stance against music was due to its inappropriate use by communists and mujahideen. The injustices faced by musicians are also expressed in The Kite Runner: "I learned that Khanum Taheri...was once famous in Kabul for his enchanting voice...But although the general enjoyed listening to music...he thought that the interpreting was a good thing. It is better to entrust them to those who have a lesser reputation” (Hosseini 177). The reintroduction of music in Afghanistan will only be possible if people understand why the ban was put into effect, how policies began to change, and how to effectively teach a culture to embrace music again. The communist invasion in 1978 marked the beginning of the downfall for Afghan music. Many Afghans were not supportive of the Soviet style of music and dance that was replacing their traditional music and dance styles. Additionally, adolescent boys and girls were often forced to dance for fun in front of high-ranking officials. Often, they would choose the prettiest girls from these groups to be prostituted. Female musicians often suffer the same fate. It was also required that singers use communist slogans in their songs. Parents who ref... middle of article ......n comparison with countries around the world. Works Cited “National Institute of Music of Afghanistan”. Afghan National Institute of Music. Internet. May 7, 2014. “Afghanistan: the Taliban have banned all music. » Libremuse. Internet. May 5, 2014. “CU-Boulder music graduates bring music education to the heart of Afghanistan.” » University of Colorado at Boulder. Internet. May 5, 2014. .Hosseini, Khaled. The kite runner. New York: Riverhead, 2003. Print.Staff, NPR. “After difficult times at home, Afghan musicians seek to be heard in America.” NPR. NPR. Internet. May 2 2014. .