The annual Reggae festival, Rototom Sunsplash, that takes place in Benicassim Spain cancelled its scheduled performance by reggae artist/rapper and beat boxer, Matisyahu – Spanish daily El Pais reported Saturday August 15th.
The Jewish American artist was scheduled to perform on August 22. Unfortunately, he had his show cancelled after he refused to release a public statement backing a Palestinian state.
The Times of Israel reported that the festival was pressured by activists from the BDS movement, which aims to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel, and that other musicians threatened to cancel their performances unless Matisyahu made the declaration.
The event director, Filippo Giunta, asked the singer on Thursday to issue a “signing statement or video” that expressed in a “very clear” way that Palestinians are entitled to their own state, according to El Pais.
Other artists at the event threatened to cancel their own performances if Matisyahu was allowed to take the stage because he was “seen to represent Israel,” according to the Times of Israel. The local BDS movement accused Matisyahu of being a “Zionist” who supports the practice of “apartheid and ethnic cleansing.”
On August 17 Matisyahu released a powerful statement outlining what the festival organizer requested of him and responded to his dismissal from the festival.
“The festival organizers contacted me because they were getting pressure from the BDS movement. They wanted me to write a letter, or make a video, stating my positions on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to pacify the BDS people. I support peace and compassion for all people. My music speaks for itself, and I do not insert politics into my music. Music has the power to transcend the intellect, ideas, and politics, and it can unite people in the process. The festival kept insisting that I clarify my personal views; which felt like clear pressure to agree with the BDS political agenda. Honestly, it was appalling and offensive, that as the one publicly Jewish-American artist scheduled for the festival they were trying to coerce me into political statements. Were any of the other artists scheduled to perform asked to make political statements in order to perform? No artist deserves to be put in such a situation simply to perform his or her art. Regardless of race, creed, country, cultural background, etc, my goal is to play music for all people. As musicians, that is what we seek. – Blessed Love, Matis”
We believe that festivals should be about the music and bringing people from all of the world together. Festivals are an opportunity for people to unite and learn about other cultures. The producers of Rototom should be ashamed of themselves for giving into pressure from the BDS movement. A movement that uses an anti-Israel agenda to hide behind anti-Semitism.
Matisyahu is known for spreading words of peace throughout his lyrics. In his song “One Day.” he says the following.
“All my life I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
For the people to say
That we don’t wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars”
Unlike Rototom Festival, we hope this is a message festivals can spread!
