Afghan Storytelling and Preserving Culture Event Held in Washington

The cultural event “Afghan Storytelling and Preserving Culture” was held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C. The program took place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Freer Gallery and welcomed participants both in person and online.

The event aimed to celebrate Afghanistan’s cultural heritage and highlight the efforts of artists and cultural activists to preserve it. Participants included figures from music, cinema, literature, and other creative fields, who shared personal and collective narratives emphasizing cultural resilience and Afghanistan’s historical identity.

Key speakers at the event included Omara Masoudi, former Director of the National Museum of Afghanistan; Chase F. Robinson, Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art and a scholar of cultural history; Roya Sadat, Afghanistan’s first female movie director; and Amna Nawaz, journalist and moderator of the session on the Afghan diaspora’s storytelling.

The gathering was part of the museum’s cultural and research programming, underlining the importance of collective collaboration and storytelling in safeguarding Afghanistan’s cultural heritage.