- (2020 Grant recipients of Pulitzer Center)
Afraz and Erfan live in the city of Rasht in the province of Gilan, in the north of Iran. Before they met, each had been playing music on his own. Then, in 2016, a mutual friend introduced them to each other. Considering that both were musicians, their friendship soon flourished, and forming a strong bond, they decided to create a band and give street performances to earn a wage. Since the coronavirus outbreak, these two have been in quarantine as many other Iranians have, and as a result, they now face financial hardship. A few weeks into the pandemic, they decided to start performing again as their funds and savings drained out. They had no choice but to risk their lives and go to the streets to make money. Playing instruments while following safety protocols is exceedingly difficult. Even though having fewer people on the street minimizes their risk of infection, the musicians’ daily earnings have been gutted.
Moreover, considering that they live in an Islamic country, morality police officers have caused them endless trouble ever since they began playing. They have been arrested several times, and have had their instruments confiscated each time. However, they have never given up playing music, no matter how hard it is in an Islamic country. Indeed, it is their only way to make money. Afraz and Erfan are highly celebrated in the city. In addition to their street performances, they have also been playing as surprise guests at birthday parties in return for small sums of money.
- Rasht , Iran – May 202. Afraz and Erfan living in Rasht, were introduced to each other by a mutual friend in 2016. Before they met one another, each had been separately playing professionally their own musical instrument. Considering that both of them were musicians, their friendship has soon deepened and after one year of a strong bond they decided to form a band and give street performances in order to earn a wage. Given the country they live in being Islamic, morality police officers have caused them endless trouble ever since they began playing. Though being arrested several times and also had their instruments confiscated each time, they have never given up playing music as indeed it is their only way to make money, no matter how hard it could be in such an Islamic country. Since coronavirus outbreak, these two have been in quarantine as other Iranians have and faced financial difficulties consequently. Nevertheless, as the situation getting better they have started to work again while following safety protocols but earning less considerably than before. With regard to being highly celebrated in the city, in addition to perform street performances, Afraz and Erfan have been playing as surprise guests at birthday parties in return for a small sum of money since a while ago. Afraz and Erfan who are greatly noted in the city, along with giving street performances, sometimes play at parties as surprise guests. This woman in tears of joy, is a surprised doctor who her sister had arranged to throw a surprise birthday party for her with Afraz and Erfan in advance.
- Rasht , Iran – May 202. Afraz and Erfan living in Rasht, were introduced to each other by a mutual friend in 2016. Before they met one another, each had been separately playing professionally their own musical instrument. Considering that both of them were musicians, their friendship has soon deepened and after one year of a strong bond they decided to form a band and give street performances in order to earn a wage. Given the country they live in being Islamic, morality police officers have caused them endless trouble ever since they began playing. Though being arrested several times and also had their instruments confiscated each time, they have never given up playing music as indeed it is their only way to make money, no matter how hard it could be in such an Islamic country. Since coronavirus outbreak, these two have been in quarantine as other Iranians have and faced financial difficulties consequently. Nevertheless, as the situation getting better they have started to work again while following safety protocols but earning less considerably than before. With regard to being highly celebrated in the city, in addition to perform street performances, Afraz and Erfan have been playing as surprise guests at birthday parties in return for a small sum of money since a while ago. To updated their tunes, Afraz and Erfan do practices at various places, one of which is a café belonging to Mahzad, an old friend of Erfan.