Essential Reading: A Curated Selection of Stories from Afghanistan
At Artijaan, we’re committed to expanding our knowledge of the communities we partner with and the contexts in which we work. When we’re not listening to stories from the makers with whom we collaborate, we’re seeking other ways to soak in the rich and complex history of Afghanistan. We’ve compiled a curated selection of our favorite books, photo stories, poetry, and long form reporting that have broadened our understanding of this storied country.
We invite you to explore in the hopes that they offer insights into Afghanistan and new ways of thinking about this place and its people that have long been misunderstood.
Load Poems Like Guns: Women’s Poetry from Herat, Afghanistan
Load Poems Like Guns is a collection of poems featuring the work of eight Afghan women from Herat, the western most province of Afghanistan. Written in the years between the Taliban rule of the 90s and its ascendant regime of today, each poem is a visceral witness of a tumultuous time and the continued influence of the Persian poetic tradition.
Watch poet Somaia Ramish read alongside translator Farzana Marie.
This is Afghanistan: 2014 - 2021
In his photobook, award-winning photojournalist Andrew Quilty offers a vivid portrayal of life in Afghanistan during his nine years living and working in the country. Through this thoughtfully crafted compilation of his work, Quilty’s stunning images offer an intimate and powerful window into Afghanistan and its people as they grapple with a legacy of conflict and look to an uncertain future.
Prints of Andrew’s work are available for purchase on our website.
The Naked Don’t Fear the Water: An Underground Journey with Afghan Refugees
In his debut book, Canadian reporter Matthieu Akins chronicles his harrowing, undercover journey following the path of his friend and longtime interpreter Omar as he flees political instability and economic uncertainty in Afghanistan to find a new life in Europe. Through his riveting and deeply empathetic narrative, Akins asks us to question the value of borders and consider the lives of those who risk everything to cross land and water in search of a better future.
Inside the Fall of Kabul
Originally published in The New York Times Magazine, Inside the Fall of Kabul is a gripping account of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the tumultuous days that followed. Matthieu Akins, author of The Naked Don’t Fear the Water, offers essential historical context and a personal account of the chaos that descended in the wake of the Taliban takeover. Captured in harrowing detail, the piece masterclass in long form reporting and features images made by photojournalist Jim Huylebroek, whose photography is available for purchase on our website.
Shabana Basij-Rasikh’s TED Talk
Shabana Baij-Rasikh is an educator and founder of SOLA, School of Leadership Afghanistan, a boarding school for Afghan girls. When the Taliban took power in August 2021, she was forced to evacuate along with more than 250 students, staff, and family members of the school. They found safe-harbor in Rwanda, where they resumed classes just four days after arriving.
Basij-Rasikh is a stalwart champion of girls education and the transformative power of female leadership and sisterhood.
In her TED Talk, The dream of educating Afghan girls lives on, Basij-Rasikh describes the circumstances surrounding the school’s relocation and her commitment to empowering Afghan girls in the face of immense challenge.
Her ultimate call to action: “Do not look away.”
When Cages Fly
A heart-rending story meets an unconventional approach in photographer Kiana Hayeri’s newly-released photo book, When Cages Fly. Captured inside Afghanistan’s Herat Women’s Prison, the book offers a window into the lives of women who have been incarcerated for using extreme actions to escape abusive and violent marriages. Kiana’s luminous images ask us to consider the joy, pain, and resolve of those depicted.
A Woman Among Warlords: The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Who Dared to Raise Her Voice
In her compelling memoir, former Afghan politician and activist Malalai Joya shares her remarkable journey. Raised in refugee camps in Iran and Pakistan, Joya went on to become the youngest elected member of Afghanistan’s parliament in 2005. Her humanitarian initiatives include establishing a free medical clinic and orphanage in Farah, her home province.
Searingly candid, Joya’s book is a testament of female courage in a fraught geopolitical landscape.
Twenty Years: Hope, War, and the Betrayal of an Afghan Generation
In his upcoming book, Wall Street Journal correspondent Sune Engel Rasmussen tells an unflinching story of promise and collapse from the perspective of those who lived through the tumult of post-9/11 Afghanistan. Drawing on more than a decade of reporting, Rasmussen explores how the U.S. introduced new freedoms and wealth, only to witness the ensuing corruption, warlordism, and social fragmentation that paved the way for the Taliban's resurgence.
On sale August 6, 2024.
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