DJ Black Coffee urged to boycott Isreali gig
JOBURG - House musician DJ Black Coffee has been urged to not perform in Israell by a group of progressive Israelis.
DJ Black Coffee urged to boycott Israeli gig
A group of progressive Israelis belonging to the human rights organisation Boycott from Within have released a public letter calling on South African musician DJ Black Coffee to cancel his upcoming Israeli gig.
The DJ, whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, is scheduled to perform in Israel later this week.
The letter was initially issued privately to Maphumulo but was published online after no response from the musician, his company Soulistic Music and his foundation.
“We are Israeli activists who support the Palestinian civil society call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel’s policies of colonialism, occupation and apartheid towards the Palestinian people. We have recently learned of your planned gig in Tel Aviv. We are writing in order to urge you not to come, since your gig will be directly related to Israel’s propaganda efforts, at the expense of the Palestinian people. Please hear us out,” the letter read.
The letter further cites Israel’s Apartheid policies, Israeli discrimination and oppression of Palestinians as some of the reasons why Maphumulo should cancel.
BDS South Africa, a local Palestine solidarity human rights organisation also wrote to Maphumulo urging him not to entertain Israeli apartheid.
The letter contains quotes by musicians in support of the Israeli boycott including Roger Waters of Pink Floyd and the USA singer, Macy Gray.
Gray performed in Israel in 2011 but later regretted it and tweeted “I had a reality check and I stated that I definitely would not have played there if I had known even the little that I know now”.
Since the 2005 Palestinian call for a boycott against Israel several high profile people have cancelled Israeli performances and engagements including Stevie Wonder.
Ladysmith Black Mambozo also came out on the cultural boycott of Israel.
“Performing in Israel is not only morally wrong but also has serious consequences for an artist’s image. The recent case of Scarlett Johansson being criticised by her own organisation, Oxfam, for doing an advert with the Israeli company SodaStream is a good example,” Khulekani Chiya of BDS South Africa commented.
Read full letter here: https://tinyurl.com/ol2ne5j
Details: www.djblackcoffee.org
