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Journalism of Courage
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai recently attended Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in Wembley, London. In a heartwarming post on Instagram, she shared a story about her connection to music, recalling her life in her hometown Swat Valley.
Her life took an unanticipated turn when the Taliban took control of her town in 2008. The extremist group banned television and music, and restricted girls from attending schools. In 2012, when Yousafzai was 15, she was shot on the head for her role in advocating women’s rights.
Sharing a series of photos on her Instagram handle, Yousafzai shared her “magical” experience of attending a Taylor Swift concert. In her post, she shared that she and her friend once climbed the highest rock and performed Swift’s iconic song ‘Love Story’ and that is when her ‘Swiftie’ journey began.
“One of my favorite memories from Swat Valley is a field trip I took in middle school with my best friend, Moniba (second photo, on the left). Giggling, we went to a waterfall hidden away in a lush green mountain. We were so excited because we were finally allowed to go to school again and could be outdoors with our friends, laughing and singing together,” she wrote.
“Having lived through a time where music and art were banned, music felt like a gift. Moniba and I found the highest rock we could, climbed on top of it and announced to all of our classmates and teachers we were going to perform our new favourite song called LOVE STORY. We sang with all of our heart, taking in the joy we felt every second. That’s where my Swiftie journey began. It feels magical that my first-ever proper concert would be to see @TaylorSwift, singing along to every song surrounded by friends,” she added.
Highlighting the events when the Taliban took over Afghanistan, Yousafzai shared that music gave confidence and freedom to her and her friends back in Swat Valley. “Three years ago, the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan. Once again, music no longer plays on the streets, and girls and women are barred from school, work and public life. In Swat, music made my friends and me feel confident and free. And one day I hope we will live in a world where every girl will be able to enjoy music and live out her wildest dreams,” she wrote.
Take a look at the post here:
According to BBC News, Malala Yousafzai was attacked on her way home from school in Mingora. Later, she wrote a diary for BBC Urdu about life under the Taliban.
