Shabnam Zahir Humphrey is an Afghan-American filmmaker, cultural advocate, and the founder of the Zahir Foundation for the Arts (ZFFTA), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Afghanistan's rich art, history, and cultural heritage. She is the only daughter of legendary Afghan musician Ahmad Zahir, known as "the Elvis of Afghanistan," and is recognized for her work in visual storytelling, including documentary filmmaking.

Shabnam Zahir was born on the day her father, Ahmad Zahir, was killed on his 33rd birthday. Her mother, Fakhria Younossi Zahir, became a widow at the age of 30 and fled Afghanistan with Shabnam at the height of the Russian invasion, the day after Shabnam's first birthday.

Despite the turmoil and loss, Fakhria was committed to honoring Ahmad Zahir's legacy by staying in Afghanistan to build his tomb. She sold most of her possessions to achieve this goal. Drawing inspiration from the tomb of Persian poet Rahim Mehrey, she crafted Zahir's resting place as a reflection of his artistic soul.

The design of the tomb was deeply significant to Fakhria. It featured six white marble pillars, symbolizing stability and balance, core elements of Zahir's life, spirituality, and artistry. The pillars also represent spiritual completeness, mirroring Zahir's deep connection to Sufi mysticism and poetry. A dome and canopy were visual elements chosen to reflect Zahir's spirituality and his devotion to poetry and art.

Shabnam grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, and graduated from T.C. Williams High School, famously featured in the film Remember the Titans. Influenced by her father's legacy and her mother's resilience, she developed a deep commitment to storytelling, art, and cultural preservation.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Sociology and is currently pursuing her Master's degree at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children.

Shabnam Zahir's work has been recognized for amplifying Afghan voices, particularly those of Afghan women, and advocating for cultural preservation during Afghanistan's ongoing struggles.

Ahmad Zahir remains one of Afghanistan's most celebrated cultural icons. In 2010, he was ranked among NPR's 50 Great Voices, a list celebrating the most extraordinary singers from around the world. His music, which blended Afghan traditional sounds with Western rock and jazz, continues to resonate with audiences globally.

In 2014, Shabnam played a critical role in advocating for Afghanistan to join the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. Working in collaboration with the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C., and the Arts & Entertainment Advocacy Clinic at George Mason University, she highlighted the need for international copyright protections for Afghan artists [2]. This effort culminated in Afghanistan becoming a member of the Berne Convention in 2018, ensuring Afghan artists received international recognition and protections for their creative works.

Her work through ZAHIR and the Zahir Foundation safeguards her father's poetic message of unity, freedom, and resilience, while inspiring global audiences.

In 2022, Shabnam Zahir founded the Zahir Foundation for the Arts (ZFFTA) to honor her father's legacy and support Afghan artists globally.

The foundation takes its name from Ahmad Zahir, Afghanistan's most renowned musician, celebrated for his ability to unite various Afghan tribes through music while challenging cultural taboos surrounding art and music. Ahmad Zahir has posthumously become a symbol of the peaceful Afghanistan that once existed. His lyrics and lifestyle were a testament to free speech, though it is speculated that his outspokenness may have contributed to his tragic demise.

Additionally, Ahmad Zahir's father, Dr. Abdul Zahir, a former Prime Minister of Afghanistan, played a pivotal role in the country's history by helping ratify the 1964 Afghan Constitution, which emphasized women's rights and freedom of the press. This progressive moment in Afghanistan's history serves as an inspiration for ZFFTA's mission to preserve the country's cultural legacy while empowering Afghan women and artists.

The foundation's mission is to:

Preserve Afghanistan's art, history, and cultural heritage. Empower women and enable all Afghans to pursue the arts without fear for their safety or social rejection.

Negine Khpalwak, Afghanistan's first female conductor, serves as an Officer at ZFFTA. Negine led Zohra, the first all-female orchestra in Afghanistan from ANIM, before fleeing the country following the 2021 Taliban invasion. Now residing in the United States, Negine hopes her involvement with ZFFTA will inspire musicians - especially women - to pursue their artistic passions without fear.

In November 2022, ZFFTA documented an evening where Negine performed arrangements of Ahmad Zahir's music, including the song "Zindagi Akhir Sarayat." This revolutionary piece, infused with rock elements, provided Negine with strength and inspiration to pursue music. Ahmad Zahir originally wrote the song when the communist government banned it from radio airplay. The song's refrain, when translated to English, reads:

"Freedom and liberty mean life to mankind. There's no need for submission, Fight for your freedom."

This performance stands as a tribute to Ahmad Zahir's legacy and as a symbol of resilience and hope for Afghan artists.

Shabnam brings over a decade of expertise in graphic design, storytelling, digital media marketing, and photography, thriving in crafting visually compelling narratives and steering impactful projects that resonate deeply with her audience. Her career reflects a deep commitment to preserving cultural legacies and championing Afghan artists. Zahir (Documentary Film)

Shabnam Zahir is the director of the upcoming independent documentary ZAHIR, which chronicles the life and legacy of her father, Ahmad Zahir. The film delves into a pivotal moment in Afghanistan's history - its transformative era of boundless opportunities within the arts. She has spent the last 7 years spearheading this project, alongside her mentor and EP and Oscar nominated director for Buzkashi Boys, Sam French and Tom Freston, EP.

Through her lens, Shabnam will weave together the poetic legacy of her father, capturing his spiritual message of unity and freedom, while exploring Afghanistan's vibrant cultural and artistic heritage during its "Golden Age."

ZAHIR is expected to enter post-production in Summer 2025 and has garnered interest from production companies and grant foundations supporting independent documentaries.

"In Northern Virginia, a widow of 'the Afghan Elvis' quietly raised his only child," The Washington Post, December 3, 2021 "Afghanistan considers copyright treaty after Mason legal clinic advocates for filmmaker," George Mason University, June 6, 2017 www.ahmadzahirdoc.com Zahir Documentary "NPR's 50 Great Voices," NPR, 2010