A NEW unit to monitor and help re-establish the music culture of Afghanistan will be based in New Cross.

The Afghanistan Music Unit at Goldsmiths College, will be launched this month (February).

Unit director John Baily has studied the country's music for nearly 30 years. His findings are documented in a recent report entitled Can you stop the birds singing? The censorship of music in Afghanistan.

Its two main aims will be to monitor the process of rebuilding music culture in Afghanistan, especially the activities of Radio Afghanistan and Kabul TV, and to provide support, through expert advice and educational materials.