Obaidulah Jan Kandahari

Obaidullah Jan Kandaharai (Pashto: عبیدالله جان کندهاری, romanized: Obāidullāh Jān Kāndāhāri ^[1]), or simply known as Obaidullah Jan, was a singer from Kandahar, Afghanistan.^[2] He was popular among the Pashtuns in southern Afghanistan and in Quetta, Pakistan. ^{[citation needed]} He brought some new style to traditional Pashto music and was considered a classical singer. He recorded many albums with lyrics written by Sayed Abdul Khaliq Agha and Abdul Baqi Dilresh, famous Pashto poets from Kandahar.

Obaidullah Jan Kandahari عبيدالله جان کندهاری
Obaidullah Jan Kandahari in 1970s
Background information
Birth name	Obaidullah Jan Kandahari
Born	5 May 1951 Kandahar, Kingdom of Afghanistan
Died	25 February 1983(1983-02-25) (aged 31) Spin Boldak, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Genres	Ghazals, Classical
Occupation	Afghan musician
Instrument(s)	Dhol, Dilruba, Tabla, Harmonium
Years active	1970s and early 1980s
Labels	Aryan Records Afghan Music Classics
Past members	Abdul Baqi Dilresh, Abdul Khaliq Agha – (Pashto Poets)

Obaidullah Jan's songs are enjoyed by many of the Pashtun diaspora around the world, especially the Pashtuns from the Kandahar-Quetta region and those living in Karachi, Pakistan. ^{[citation needed]} He was also recognized by other Afghans who understood Pashto language. He was assassinated in 1983.

Lyricists/Composers

Abdul Baqi Dilresh, renowned by his poetic pseudonym "Dilresh," is a famous Pashto poet hailing from Kandahar, Afghanistan, and Quetta, Balochistan. Widely recognized for his contributions to Pashto Literature, Notably, the famous singer Obaidullah Jan Kandahari has lent his voice to around 400 songs written by Abdul Baqi Dilresh, and the acclaimed artists Nazia Iqbal & Naghma has interpreted a few of Dilresh's compositions, though these remain unpublished on the internet, reserved as personal expressions.

Death

During the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Ubaidullah Jan was secretly crossing the Durand Line into Pakistan with two females when he was murdered by a rogue General Rahmatullah.^[2] It is believed that Ubaidullah Jan was about 32 years old at the time of death, and that the killing was over proceeds relating to his music. He was buried by Rahmatullah‘s followers at an unknown place, but very likely somewhere in the Spin Boldak District of Kandahar Province.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of Afghan singers
• List of Pashto-language singers