Culture

Every time a chicken is cooked, one bone is worth keeping. The chenaq — the small, forked wishbone at the top of the bird’s chest — gets pulled out, set aside, and used to start a game that can last for days — or even years. Some people take it to extremes.

Afghanistan has a long tradition of building for the climate. From the underground channels of the karez irrigation system to the wind-catching towers of Sistan, Afghans have always found practical ways to deal with extreme heat without modern machinery. One of the most inventive examples is the Helmandi cooler — a low-cost evaporative cooler that has been keeping homes cool across Afghanistan for generations, no grid power required.

Few pieces of Afghan dress have travelled as far as the karakul. It has sat on the heads of rulers and presidents in front of international cameras, and on the heads of men in market stalls who have never thought twice about it.

The name “Afghanistan” might frighten some people — shaped by years of Taliban rule and the global image that era left behind. But if we look at Afghanistan through a lens other than war and politics, this country has many qualities that make it one of the most lovable nations on earth.

Instead of asking why so many Afghans leave their homeland each year, perhaps we should ask: why do so many choose to stay, despite every hardship?

Afghanistan sits at the meeting point of South and Central Asia, where mountain landscapes, historic trade routes, and diverse communities shape everyday life. This introduction gives you a clear starting point before diving deeper into specific topics.