KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Prominent Afghan singer Dawood Sarkhosh has revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, saying he is now recovering and returning to what he described as the main stage of his life.
Sarkhosh made the remarks in an interview published on Saturday, September 12, saying that he is now doing well and asking his audience to believe that he is in good health.
He said he underwent surgery as well as radiation and chemotherapy during his illness and is now gradually returning to his normal life and activities.
Sarkhosh, one of Afghanistan’s best-known singers and musicians, has been active in Afghan music since the 1990s. His work combines folk and popular music, with many of his songs drawing on themes of homeland, exile, war, displacement and the experiences of Afghans living away from their country.
His 1998 song “Sarzamin-e Man” (“My Homeland”) became particularly associated with Afghan refugees and those forced to leave the country.
Born in 1971 in what is now Daikundi province, Sarkhosh was influenced by his elder brother, Sarwar Sarkhosh, a well-known Afghan musician. He later moved to Pakistan, where he continued developing his musical career before becoming widely known among Afghan communities in the diaspora. He has released several albums and performed concerts in countries including Australia, Canada and several European countries.
Sarkhosh has been away from the stage for about two years, following what was then described as an illness. He subsequently told his followers that he would take a break from public performances and social media.
His recent remarks are the clearest public update he has given about his health. In a message to his audience several days earlier, Sarkhosh had also said that he was doing well and urged them to believe him.
The singer’s illness has drawn widespread attention among Afghan audiences, particularly among Hazaras, for whom his music has long been associated with memories of homeland, exile and collective experience. A recent profile noted that he had been undergoing cancer treatment for more than a year, including surgery and lengthy medical treatment.
Dawood Sarkhosh holds a particularly significant place in the cultural and musical life of the Hazara community. His popularity among Hazaras goes beyond his distinctive voice and musical style; many listeners see his songs as reflections of their own experiences of displacement, war, discrimination, migration and longing for home.
Drawing on Afghan folk traditions, particularly the dambura, Sarkhosh has used music to express both personal and collective memories. Songs such as My Homeland have resonated deeply with generations of Hazaras who have experienced forced migration and separation from their homeland.
His music has therefore become more than entertainment for many Hazara listeners—it has served as a form of cultural memory, preserving stories of suffering, belonging and resilience while giving voice to experiences that are often absent from mainstream Afghan cultural narratives. His connection to Hazara music is also rooted in his family history, particularly the influence of his elder brother, Sarwar Sarkhosh, a prominent Hazara musician who played an important role in shaping Dawood Sarkhosh’s musical career.
