Naghma (; , ; (born 23 April 1954) is an Afghan singer who started her career in the early 1980s. Similar to that of Sonny & Cher, she sang alongside Mangal during the 1980s and early 1990s. She sings in both Dari and Pashto, the country's two main languages.

Early years Naghma stated in a 2019 interview on Mashriq TV that she was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (14 Apr 2019) (@3:10) Her exact birthplace and date of birth are not reported. She was the eldest daughter in a family of five boys and three girls, and was given the nickname Šaperai (). Her father was Sayed Suleiman Shah, a Farsiwan from Deh Sabz District of Kabul Province. (4 Dec 2022) (@12:58) Her mother Bibi Mashala was a Pashtun from Kandahar. Both of Afghanistan's major languages were spoken in their house. Her father died when Naghma was 7 or 8 years old. As a young girl, she developed an interest in music since elementary school in Kandahar. At the age of around sixteen years, she moved to Kabul with her paternal uncle and continued her secondary education at Rabia Balkhi Lece, where she began performing as a vocalist in a girl's band. This was around the time of the April Revolution of 1978, when the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan took control of Kabul and other parts of the country. (14 Apr 2019) (@3:40) Her five brothers were killed while serving in the Afghan army. One of her two sisters, Gulpari, was killed in Kabul in the early 1990s.

Career A year before finishing high school she married Mangal, an already popular Afghan singer from Laghman Province. They were instant celebrities, recording hits that are famous to this day. Her early songs were based on southern Afghan music, most of which were folkloric in nature. She additionally sang a song for the Afghan Air Force and Air Defense, titled "Lalaya Hawabaza (Beloved Pilot) in which she stood in the cabin of an Afghan Mil Mi-8.

She and the family left Afghanistan to reside in India for about two years and from there to Dubai in the UAE. (14 Apr 2019) (@41:40) After staying there for two years, the family proceeded to Pakistan. There, they became very successful with an enthusiastic crowd of Afghan exiles who were nostalgic for their native music. Her financial situation had improved significantly by this time. In 2000, the family immigrated to the United States as refugees. Naghma and Mangal connected with the Afghan-American community of Northern California.

In March 2013, she became the first Afghan to receive the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and the Pride of Performance, the highest Pakistani Presidential Awards handed to artists, sportsmen, scientists and writers. She was also known as the host of Sorood-e Dehkada, a popular music show on Noor TV.

Personal life Naghma and Mangal divorced in 2006, and later she married the son of Mohammad Nabi Mohammadi of Logar Province. They also broke off the marriage. (VOA Pashto, 21 March 2017) (@1:15) Naghma has four children: Anwar, Khyber, Lima and Madina. (14 Apr 2019) (@8:00)

Discography She has recorded over 500 songs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and also in the United States over 32 years. This list is incomplete

Album: Bachi Hamsaya

Bachi Hamsaya Chiching Wa Aros O Bacha Maida Maida Nazi Jan Ba Yin Sazi Mahali Ghataghani Shekesta Chelamey Imroz Tu Ra Meparastam O Dilbar Janim O Bacha Jama Narinje

Album: Best of Naghma

Charsi Halika Stargi Naghma Ram Ding Ta Tis Tang Bokonem Janana ke Pashton Halka Daroghjan Mee Raghlay Yama Damor Za Ba Gidi Rawdim Chita Che Zi Mat Raza Da Zandgi Sra Yara Rana Wrak Nashi Janana Rasha Da Shamali Hagha Sra Oshan Allah Wi Zamazda

Album: Kabul Nazaneen

Salam Afghanistan Anaram Anaram Delbar Jan Ghataghani Yaram Nest Darbigeri O Dilbar Janam Nazi Jan O Bachi Afghan Maida Maida Baran Em Roz Che Roz Ast

Album: O Khoda Jan

Az America Wa Alman O Khuda Jan Sharshara Baran Shab Amadam Bebe Roko Jan Kashki Ma Man Dokhtari Sherazam Mara Az Ashiqi Bas Mohabbat Pesta Forosh

Popular Singles:

Mazdigar De Ka Nade O Bacha Jane Bacha Lalaya Hawa Baza Kandahar Halika Adam Khana Charsi Mohabbat Lalo Lalo Mala Chal Ne Razi Akh Janan Me Laro Zema Afghanistan Loya Khudaya Orbal Chapa Kra Bya Rasta Akhshe na ni na (Attan De Gada Da) Mubarak Di Sha Akhtar Lalai de Dilbar Zalim Zalim Rasha Khwala Rasha Wa Grana Bangri Che Watan Afghanistan She Yarana Yaar Khob De De Zowani Khubona Nor e Newranawo Ay Da Watan Da Abay Roka Zoya Afghani Mashoma

Contributing artist The Rough Guide to the Music of Afghanistan, 2010

See also List of Afghan singers Afghan Americans

References

External links (4 Dec 2022) (VOA Deewa, 19 April 2020)