Exhibition sparks reflection on Afghan diaspora’s cassette tape heritage

A visit to the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne has prompted journalist Shadi Khan Saif to reflect on the role of cassette tapes in maintaining connections between his Afghan refugee family and relatives in Afghanistan during the 1990s. Saif, who visited the library to view an exhibition of historical letters and souvenirs, noted that a display of vintage tapes evoked memories of his childhood in Pakistan, where physical media served as a vital link to a homeland disrupted by conflict.

Saif, an editor, producer, and journalist who has worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Germany, and Australia, described how his family would gather in the evenings to listen to hour-long recordings sent by travellers. These tapes, brought from across the Middle East, Afghanistan, India, and Iran, provided updates on daily ordeals and offered emotional healing during a period when telephones were a luxury and travel was dangerous.

The recordings often originated from Saif’s aunt, Babo, who remained in Afghanistan while expecting a baby and unable to flee due to warring parties. Her husband, Ahmadzai, sent messages that Saif described as resembling election rally speeches, beginning with holy verses. Saif’s mother would listen to these 60-minute tapes almost every other evening, often weeping at news of droughts, bombings, or deaths in their village.

In response, Saif’s mother would overwrite musical cassettes with her own recordings to send back, ensuring Saif recited songs or poems to maintain the familial bond. After Saif’s father died of a heart attack, his elder brothers migrated to Saudi Arabia and India as migrant workers. They continued the tradition of sending cassette messages, though these were shorter and focused on practical matters such as schooling and bills.

Today, Saif lives in Australia with his wife and children, communicating with his extended family through a WhatsApp group. While he notes that modern voice notes are significantly shorter than the heartfelt, hour-long recordings of his youth, he emphasises that the desire to hear loved ones’ voices remains a crucial connection for the diaspora, regardless of the technology used.