Book Launch Ceremony of “A War and a Song” Held in Mashhad
Book Launch Ceremony of “A War and a Song” Held in Mashhad
Coinciding with World Book Day, the unveiling ceremony of the book “A War and a Song” by Shafiq Payam, featuring caricatures designed by Mohsen Hossaini, was held on Wednesday, April 22, 2025. The event was organized by Dorre Dari Cultural Institute and the Amir Khusrow Balkhi Cultural and Artistic Foundation in Mashhad.
This book, containing more than 150 socially humorous sentences accompanied by caricatures, represents a collaborative work between two Afghan artists and pursues a unique approach to presenting social critiques through humor, illustration, and concise writing.
Mohammad Kazem Kazemi, a renowned Afghan poet and writer, praised the creative collaboration between the author and illustrator of the book, stating:
"This book, with its two-part title and dual structure, is a joint work of two longtime friends. Our society is more accustomed to individual efforts, and group projects rarely reach fruition. However, this work demonstrates that collaboration in creating a cultural piece can be highly fruitful. I hope this expands further."
Referring to the concise writing and humor present in the book, he added:
"Books of this kind, which can be read in a short time, can play an important role in strengthening the culture of reading and attract today’s audience to read more."
Shafiq Payam, the book’s author, also expressed his happiness at reuniting with old friends and the positive reception of the publication, saying:
"The goal of this book is to reflect social concerns through humor. Unlike political and economic ventures in our country that often do not come to fruition, a cultural collaboration can be lasting and impactful."
Sayed Abutaleb Mozaffari, a well-known Afghan poet and writer, discussed the difference between argumentative and dramatic texts, stating:
"Texts based on argumentation often face resistance from the audience because the reader’s ideological assumptions clash with the writer’s reasoning. However, the language of emotion, literature, humor, and art breaks down this guard."
He continued:
"That is why humor, painting, stories, and poetry can implant the deepest meanings into the audience’s soul without mental resistance. This book is of that kind."
Then Mohsen Hossaini, the book’s caricature designer, referring to the prevailing mindset in his works, said:
"There are three central themes in my works: displacement, bullets, and the streets of Kabul. We live in a broken society; our body and soul are displaced. This book is an effort to resist this collapse and endure its suffering. Although we know we may not achieve much, creating art is a way to bear the situation."
He added:
"In a society where only 500 copies of books are printed for 30 million people, audience distribution, finding readers, and maintaining the cultural production cycle is truly difficult. Yet, these efforts, however small, keep the light of culture alive for us."
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mehran Popal, a poet from Herat, Afghanistan, recited a poem on the themes of migration and exile. The book launch ceremony was held in the presence of cultural figures and enthusiasts, and copies of the book were signed by the author and illustrator for the attendees.
