DJ Black Coffee sparks cultural boycott call

The ANC and the Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) are at odds over a performance in Israel by South African record producer and Grammy winner Nkosinathi Maphumulo, popularly known as Black Coffee.

The party, which has pledged solidarity with Palestine, called for a cultural boycott of Israel and expressed disappointment in Black Coffee yesterday.

The SAJBD said it fully supported Black Coffee and criticised the South African government for what it described as allowing its foreign policy to be hijacked by radicals.

The ANC’s international relations committee chairperson Lindiwe Zulu called on all artists to appreciate the role played by the international anti-apartheid solidarity movement in the successful international isolation of apartheid South Africa.

“The people of Palestine have a just cause and we urge our artists not to form part of the normalisation of Israel’s suppression of the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination and statehood that mirrors our very own struggle.

“The South African artistic community, having themselves experienced discrimination and oppression, must therefore continue to pledge solidarity with others who are oppressed,” added Zulu.

She said the cultural aspect of the boycott was critical to ensure the isolation of the Israeli government.

Zulu also called on South Africa’s creative sector to ensure the country continued to play a critical role in helping to resolve the crisis of Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

“In solidarity with the people of Palestine, we will continue highlighting shortcomings wherever they rear their head with regard to the role of South Africans in undermining the cause of the emancipation of the people of Palestine,” said Zulu.

“We await an opportunity to engage Black Coffee and the creative sector at large with a view to finding each other on this and other matters, as a way of creating common cause among all South Africans in rallying behind Palestine.”

The South African Jewish Board said it deplored Zulu’s “divisive statement”.

Spokesperson Charisse Zeifert added: “Imposing a boycott against Israel over and above every other country in the world is itself immoral and inconsistent with how South Africa normally conducts its foreign policy.

“Prejudice rather than any genuine concern for human rights appears to be behind this decision.

“Why, when it comes to this particular issue, is the ANC allowing its foreign policy to be hijacked by radicals who are quite happy to compromise South Africa’s objective interests for the sake of making empty anti-Israel propaganda gestures?

“The SAJBD urges the ANC to move away from the politics of boycott and rejectionism when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian question and instead pursue a policy of even-handed engagement with all sides to bring about a peaceful, negotiated two-state solution to the current conflict.”

The ANC’s boycott call follows its reaffirmation of unwavering commitment to the struggle of the Palestinian people at the party’s 54th national conference last year. At the time, the party also resolved to immediately and unconditionally downgrade the SA embassy in Israel to a liaison office.

– Additional reporting by ANA

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