The Cultural Frontline
BBC World Service
The Cultural Frontline was BBC World Service’s weekly programme where arts and news collided, exploring how artists around the world responded to major current affairs, political events and breaking news.
Sahar hosted, reported and produced for the programme across radio and digital, working across interviews, features and original video reporting.
Iran’s Ban on the Voice of Women
Female singers in Iran have been prevented from performing solo since the Islamic revolution in 1979. But Farvaraz Farvardin was determined that her voice would be heard. She speaks to reporter Sahar Zand about her musical journey from singing in the classroom, to online videos, prosecution and seeking asylum in Germany.
What’s the future for culture in Afghanistan?
Over 250 newspapers, radio and TV stations closed in the first 100 days of Taliban rule following the withdrawal of US troops in August, and the Afghan press watchdog NAI says around 70% of journalists have lost their jobs. Sahar Zand speaks to Massood Sanjer, the director of the country’s biggest commercial broadcaster and one of Afghanistan’s most prominent figures in the media, about the future of Afghanistan’s media landscape.
Rapping to change Iraq
Taking extreme risks for his rhymes, Iraqi rapper Mr Guti continues to make music about his city, Basra, despite several threats to his life. Drawing attention to the dangerous conditions and civil unrest in his country, we hear why Mr Guti filmed a music video in a burning government building.
Fighting for Peace in the Middle East With Music
How do you tell the story of your country through music? The Iranian composer Mehdi Rajabian tells the BBC's Sahar Zand why he’s brought musicians from across the Middle East together to promote peace in the region through an ambitious new album.
Broken Fingaz Street Art
Reporter Sahar Zand meets a member of the Broken Fingaz street art collective from Israel. Against the colourful backdrop of his latest mural in Hackney, east London, they discuss the controversial group’s international presence and deep roots in their native Haifa, Israel.
Fighting Cultural Destruction
Maamoun Abdulkarim, the man in charge of trying to protect Syria’s precious artefacts from being destroyed by ISIS, explains why his job is crucial for Syria’s future.
Also in the programme, we visit the street artist based in Manchester, England who’s using her art to challenge our ideas of how men and women should behave, Afghan designer Nawed Elias discusses his work combining Pashtun traditional costume with high fashion, and from Kuwait, writer Mai Al-Nakib relates a curious case of life imitating art.