Warlord of Kayan

Warlord of Kayan
Directed byJeff B. Harmon
StarringSayed Jafar Naderi
Distributed byJourneyman Pictures
Release date
  • 1989 (1989)
CountriesUnited States, Kayan, Afghanistan
LanguageEnglish

Warlord of Kayan is a documentary film directed by Jeff B. Harmon in 1989, focusing Sayed Jafar Naderi, also known as Jeff Naderi. Sayed Jafar is the elder son of Sayed Mansur Naderi, an Ismaili leader in Afghanistan. The film delves into Sayed Jafar's life journey from a former hippie motorcycle gang member and heavy metal drummer in the United States to a political and military figure in Afghanistan.[1][2] The film won the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival.[3][4]

The documentary Warlord of Kayan discusses Sayed Jafar Naderi's early years, particularly his transition from a youth in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to a military and political figure in Afghanistan. The documentary includes anecdotes about Naderi’s time in Allentown, from his involvement with local motorcycle gangs to his musical preferences. These details provide insight into the factors that influenced Sayed Jafar Naderi's return to Afghanistan, including cultural, familial, and geopolitical elements. By the age of 24, Naderi had become governor of the Baghlan province and the leader of an opposition force.[5]

It was featured in the Sunday Times magazine, including a photograph of Sayed Jafar Naderi taken by Jeff B. Harmon during one of the filmmaking scenes, had gone on the magazine's front cover.[6]

  1. ^ "Warlord of Kayan". Journeyman Pictures Website. 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  2. ^ "From Allentown to the Afghan mountains, October 2001". The Morning Call (Pennsylvania). 28 October 2001.
  3. ^ "Warlord of Kayan: An Insightful Documentary on Afghanistan's History". Khaama Press. 2014-06-07. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  4. ^ "Jeff B. Harmon - Air date 10-14-96 (Interview)". Harold Channer. 2007-05-13. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  5. ^ "Northern Alliance leader spent youth in Pennsylvania". Los Angeles Times. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  6. ^ "THE SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE - SAYED JAFAR NADERI AFGHANISTAN". Magazine Canteen. Retrieved 2024-04-04.