A Continuing Tradition
Perhaps the most striking characteristic of the Afghan letters is the incorporation of artwork. Drawing on a centuries-long tradition of manuscript illumination and floral painting, Radio Azadi listeners adapt these traditional art forms to their correspondence. Many of the letters also feature elaborate calligraphy and poetry. Calligraphic art has been a dominant visual art form in the Islamic world and is appreciated by the literate and illiterate alike. Poetry, too, has long flourished as a cultural tradition and passion in Afghanistan, and Radio Azadi receives many letters in verse.
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