In Exile: Instrumental and Vocal Music from Afghanistan will be the title and focus of the multi-ethnic performance of Ensemble Kaboul at Berea College Nov. 10, scheduled for 8 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Chapel.

The Stephenson Memorial Concert, co-sponsored by Berea’s International Center, is free and open to the public.

Since their beginning in 1995, Ensemble Kaboul has been devoted to performance of traditional music from Afghanistan and has striven to maintain the richness of Afghan culture. In their concert at Berea, the ensemble will focus on the three main trends of Afghan’s multi-ethnic musical heritage, still alive today: Ghazal (influenced by music from India), Afghan popular music and Pachtoun music. The ensemble performs on traditional instruments which include the rubâb (a short-necked lute), harmonium, tabla, zarb, and santur, and also features the voice of female Afghan singer, Ustada Farida Mahwash.

In 2003, Ensemble Kaboul, along with Mahwash, were named winners of BBC Radio 3’s World Music Award – Asia category.

Hossein Arman (voice, harmonium) , a renowned singer in his native Afghanistan who was forced into exile by the political situation there, formed Ensemble Kaboul in Geneva, Switzerland. His son, Khaled (rubab) and his cousin Osman (flute) form the mucleus of the Ensemble. For their current United States tour, they are joined by Ghulam Mohammad Nejrawi (zerbaghali drum); Prablu Edouard (tabla); and award-winning Ustad Farida Mahwash, revered as the “greatest female singer of Afghanistan.” (Ustad means “master”).