A Palestinian music group has slammed music festival WOMADelaide for removing it from its 2024 line up because the festival said it was unable to present “a suitably safe environment”.
The group, 47Soul, described as “deeply problematic” and “disheartening” the rescinding of its invitation to perform at the annual Adelaide Botanic gardens event.
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, WOMADelaide is a four-day music and dance festival beginning on March 8, drawing artists from across the world.
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This year, 71 acts will perform, including Ziggy Marley, the son of music legend, Bob Marley.
The Australian Friends of Palestine Association has launched a campaign to have Marley removed from the festival for attending a 2018 dinner in support of families of the Israeli Defence force.
WOMADelaide has declined to remove Marley and said he had a record of encouraging peace.
In a social media post, 47Soul said WOMADelaide rescinded its invitation to perform over safety concerns related to recent community protests over the war in Gaza.
The band, who all have Palestinian roots, formed in Jordan in 2013.
It has an Instagram following of more than 95,000 and it performed at WOMADelaide in 2016.
“Given our long-standing relationship with WOMAD, and having performed at numerous events globally, including WOMADelaide, this decision has hit us hard,” the band said in a social media post.
“At this critical time, the message of multiculturalism that WOMAD seeks to espouse, and its specific relevance to the events we are witnessing, could not be of greater importance.
“Sadly, it seems that this message presently stops short of including Palestinians at a time when amplifying Palestinian voices could not be more critical, both for the survival of Palestinian life and culture.”
Fans react
Fans of 47Soul have expressed disappointment over the decision.
“Whoa, of all the festivals in the world, that’s the one festival I would not have expected such actions from,” one wrote.
Another said: “As a Jewish person, I am disheartened to read this. At a time like this, we need to support you and stand with you.”
More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, following the Hamas-led incursion on October 7 that killed 1,200.
WOMADelaide says it has a “proud history of supporting Palestinians voices and presenting Palestinian artists”.
“In November 2023, during the final phase of 2024 festival programming, we invited 47SOUL to return to perform at WOMADelaide, eight years on from their last appearance,” a WOMADelaide spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.
“In the spirit of WOMAD celebrating music, arts and dance from around the world, conversations continued with a number of other artists, including one from Israel.”
The spokesperson said 47SOUL accepted the invitation a few days later.
“After careful consideration over the course of the next week, WOMADelaide formed the view that the situation unfolding in the Middle East and the associated climate of community protests, division, and uncertainty surrounding the conflict at that time, presented a real concern for the safety of all artists and audiences.
“We advised via a phone call and email to their agent, of our concerns and very difficult decision to withdraw and no contract was entered into, nor announcement made, of 47SOUL performing at the festival.
“We expressed our support for the band and that we would look to present the group instead at the 2025 festival when we very much hoped — like everyone — for the situation to have significantly improved.
“The same decision was made regarding the artist from Israel.”
WOMADelaide said the decision was not made lightly, and it was the first time the festival had “felt the need to make such a decision”.
“A few weeks ago, 47SOUL contacted WOMADelaide to ask us to reconsider and we reiterated our great respect for the band and the cause they support — one shared by many other artists on the festival lineup — and we advised that it was not a practical possibility at this late stage to present them at the 2024 festival.”
47Soul has been contacted for comment.
