Dancing and Lament
On a recent Saturday afternoon, Afghan men dressed in shalwar kameez slowly trickled in the front doors of the Discovery Center to celebrate Nowruz (Persian New Year) and the opening of a new Afghan cultural exhibit. Many wore a turban or pakol atop their head as they filed into the exhibit hall, shaking hands or embracing other men who had already arrived and were seated in chairs. A smaller number of Afghan women gathered at tables on the opposite side of the room while children roamed freely throughout the museum, playing happily among the science exhibits. A large banner of the Minaret of Jam extended to the ceiling, flanking a replica of the famous arch at Qala-e-Bost marking the entrance to the Afghan exhibit. There was a quick flurry of activity as a few of the men searched for a high place to hang the Afghan flag, and more chairs and tables were added to accommodate the crowd of 280 people. The national anthem of Afghanistan was played over the loudspeaker, followed by speeches in honor of Nowruz. One of the translators for our newest storybook, Hawa’s Lament, read a selection from the Afghan story in Dari. That books is now available for purchase in our online store.
After playing the Afghan national anthem, a group of Pashtun men stood and eagerly formed a circle in front of the Discovery Center’s newest installment. A karaoke speaker was ushered in, the right song found, and the men began to dance the Attan, a traditional dance from Afghanistan. The drum beat started slow, building up throughout the song to a faster tempo as the men smiled, cheered and danced round and round while everyone watched. An Attan can last anywhere from 5 minutes to many hours, and is performed at many different celebrations including weddings and holidays. As the song ended, the men quickly started another one, their enthusiasm drawing out acrobatic spins and jumps as they lost themselves in the music and the rhythm of the familiar.
A friend turned to me and explained that many of these men had not been able to dance together in 3 years. She looked on and raised her voice to speak over the music, “They just want to keep dancing!” They just want to keep dancing…to keep living, to keep raising their kids, celebrating their culture, learning, growing, finding peace. Displaced people are more than their trauma. They have rich lives to live, no matter where they are. We applaud our community partners for extending this welcome and honor to new friends. It builds a better community when we make space for each other to just keep dancing.
You can visit the DHDC and see the Afghan exhibit for yourself. It is the second installment in the series Beyond: Unity in Community, “a culturally relevant and responsive community program designed to develop cultural competencies about different communities in Amarillo and enrich the lives, well-being, and education of all adults and children in the region.” We are honored to partner with community organizations that aim to elevate and celebrate the various ethnic groups in Amarillo. You can partner with us too, through your purchase of a storybook or a donation to RLP that keeps our mission moving forward.
