"Shinwari Lawangina" is very famous peom writen by Zaitoon Bano and Watan Dost sung by Zarsanga and Daud Hanif. Shinwari is a pashtun tribe while "Lawangeen" is to call someone a sweet heart but in a very decent and obscure way. Lawangeen literally means beeds of necklace made of clove that usually pashtun girls wear as an ornament.
The song is filmed by Samar, Tariq Peerzada and Luke Powell and the video is pure magic.Its hard to control emotions as the viewer floats along the divine landscapes, heart rending lyrics, riveting music and operatic vocals by Zarsang and Daud Hanif. The beautifully photographed landscapes are deftly done by Samar Minallah and Tariq Peerzada, while Luke Powell, a professional photographer, based in Canada is responsible for the stunning still portraits and shots that makes this video a kaleidoscopic voyage. One can see Afghanistan in the background during the dance footage.
The Song focuses on contemporary issues: migration of afghan refugees, patriarchy, gender and social development.
First Verse: (Zarsanga)
The separation has weakened my heart.
Thoughts of the homeland bring tears to my eyes.
Too much love will drive me insane.
Here the female voice talks about the feelings of separation and the love for ones own homeland, and how it moves people to tears, when one is away from ones root and loved ones. It basically touches the approach of citizenship by showing that how an individual's identity, roots, everyday experiences is relevant to the concept of citizenship and belonging
Second Verse: (Zarsanga)
These flood waters do not scare me.
My courage will carry me across
When sung in the voice of a woman, this verse brings forth the inner strength of the women of this region. 'Floods' symbolize the patriarchal systems, cultural violence and other accepted impediments in the way of women's active participation in a citizenship and development process
Third Verse:(Daud Hanif)
Why don't you return to your homeland?
You think you are living like a king, but, away from home, one is merely a beggar.
This verse was written by a renowned Peshawar based Afghan poet Watan Dost. It exemplifies a general experience of people living in countries, where they are not and possibly may never be legal citizens. it forces one to thus question the concept of citizenship in another form. It is a verse to which generally Pukhtuns and Afghans living away from their land can relate to.
Fourth Verse:(Zarsang)
Help me leave the darkness behind,
that I may spread light all across my land.
Within the patriarchal context of thisregion, women's active citizenship and empowerment has always been dependant or linked to women's rights issues. In this particular verse an image of a girl being given as 'swara' by her father has been added (a piece from my documentary ) to symbolize darkness. The image suddenly shifts to images of girls' education and empowerment to signify the role of women in nation building and development
Fifth Verse:(Daud Hanif)
Your sister and your old mother, they love you.
'Why don't you come home?' they ask.
Written by Watan Dost, it heart wrenchingly makes the feelings of separation slap us in the face and drives home the need to encourage participation in reconstruction of ones own 'state/homeland'
What does the folksong Shinwarey Lawangeena signify? Dr Raj Wali Khattak, Director, Pushto Academy explains, “Most folk songs use symbolism to articulate love, humour, satire or social issues. Lawangeena is used here as symbolism for a beloved or someone very dear. Similarly there are quite a few versions about the history of this folksong.”
Watch Video Of Shinwari Lawangeena!
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