About Us
Who is Afghan Baba? Quick Biography
Ahmad Shah Durrani is said to be the father of the modern state of Afghanistan itself, in 1747, Shah was appointed King of the Afghans where he soon established his capital in Kandahar.
Early Years
Ahmad's father, Mohammad Zaman Khan, was the Governor of Herat and chief of the Pashtun Abdali tribe. Popular history has it that the Shah could see the talent in his young commander. Later on, according to Pashtun legend, it is said that in Delhi Nader Shah summoned Durrani, and said, "Come forward Ahmad Abdali. Remember Ahmad Khan Abdali, that after me the Kingship will pass on to you.
Rise To Power
Nader Shah's rule abruptly ended in June 1747 when he was assassinated by his own guards. The guards involved in the assassination did so secretly so as to prevent the Abdalis from coming to their King's rescue. On their way back to Kandahar, the Abdalis had "unanimously accepted" Durrani as their new leader. Hence he "assumed the insignia of royalty" as the "sovereign ruler of Afghanistan".
Russian Invasion
The Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989) was a conflict wherein insurgent groups known collectively as the Mujahideen, as well as smaller Marxist–Leninist–Maoist groups, fought a nine-year guerrilla war against the military occupation of the Soviet Union and their satellite state, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA), throughout the 1980s, mostly in the Afghan countryside.Instability & Turmoil
Instability - Present Day
Afghanistan is an ethnically diverse country that has strong traditional and community-based structures. Through these informal structures, Afghans have been able to deal with bad governance and a lack of state institutions. These structures include traditional jirga, shura and religious networks. Unofficially elected among tribes or ethnic groups, they resolve domestic and inter-community conflicts.
The Beauty of Afghanistan
Proper Introduction
There has been widespread misunderstanding of the beautiful country that is Afghanistan. From its almost sculpturesque mountains, to the valleys home to some of the most remote villages, we are proud to be sharing with you the customs and traditional food shared amongst those who have been lucky enough to see Afghanistan.
We hope that Afghan Baba can transport you to the crossroads of a food journey with delicious cuisines. From regional teas, and drinks, to a variety of home-style favorites, we have a little bit of something for everyone.
Family-Style Dining
The traditional mode of eating in Afghanistan is on the floor, although in major cities some Afghans sit at a table, Western style. Everyone sits on large colorful cushions called toshak, with large pillows (bolesht) behind for support.
Just before the food is ready to be served, one of the children lays out a large cloth or thin mat called a disterkhan (sometimes called a sofreh) on the carpet. Hands are washed before eating. Sometimes especially for guests, a special jug and bowl called haftawa-wa-lagan is brought. Water is poured from the jug over the hands, the bowl being used to catch the water.
