Awakening ancestral memory: National museum keeps Afghanistan's soul alive

KABUL — The National Museum of Afghanistan stands as a living sanctuary where the millennia-old history and identity of the Afghan people are intricately woven together. It serves as a steadfast custodian, preserving and transmitting this precious heritage from one generation to the next.

As the world marks International Museum Day on Monday, Afghanistan's premier cultural institution, located on the western edge of Kabul, continues to draw visitors despite decades of conflict, political upheaval and uncertainty.

Today, this invaluable institution houses more than 60,000 historical artifacts, embodying a rich tapestry of eras from the Kushan Empire and the intertwined Greco-Buddhist heritage to the Bronze Age, the mighty Achaemenid Empire, the Hellenistic world, the Greco-Bactrian period, and Islamic dynasties.

With priceless artifacts, such as illuminated manuscripts adorned with gold and lapis lazuli, a semiprecious stone used in jewelry, and historical documents, the museum offers a profound narrative of the country's rich civilizations, captivating both locals and international visitors.

According to Yahya Muhibzada, director of the museum's restoration department, the museum welcomed 21,000 visitors over the past year, including approximately 6,750 foreign nationals. "Fortunately, the number of visitors last year increased compared to previous years," he said.

Muhibzada notes that the institution runs regular awareness programs focused on the protection, preservation, safeguarding and maintenance of cultural, historical and artistic artifacts.

For many Afghans, a visit to the museum is more than tourism; it is a deeply personal reconnection with their roots. Tameem Qarizada, a young visitor barely over 20 years old, spent an entire day exploring the halls. He walked through the exhibition galleries, observing historical and artistic treasures with meticulous attention and enthusiastically studying the informative panels to deepen his understanding of his ancestors' legacy.