A global statement for freedom of musical expression
On 3 March 2012 the annual Music Freedom Day was marked all over the world with events, seminars, exhibitions, film shows, radio programmes and news paper articles on the subject of freedom of expression for musicians.
Events took place in 22 different countries and this year the number of participating countries outside the West had increased. On the occasion of Music Freedom Day, Freemuse gathered seven special Music Freedom Reports which offer a unique insight in current music censorship issues in countries such as West Papua, Azerbaijan and Pakistan.
THANK YOU FOR THE FANTASTIC SUPPORT!
Musicians and composers rights’ to freedom of expression are violated worldwide, but the strong support for Music Freedom Day demonstrates the will to continue the advocacy and defence for the universal rights to compose, perform and take part in musical expressions.
Thank you to everyone who put so much energy, enthusiasm and creativity in this annual celebration of freedom of musical expression!
Here is a list of the activities on Music Freedom Day 2012
INVITATION TO JOIN
Freemuse invites musicians, music promoters as well as musicians’ unions and music journalists to participate in this powerful advocacy event.
Are you ready to speak up for musician’s human rights and freedom of expression?
Drop an e-mail to Music Freedom Day’s secretariat, (info@musicfreedomday.org), when you have made up your mind and decided to join us next year, on 3 March 2013.
FOR MUSICIANS
This page has some tips specifically for individual musicians who are maybe thinking of joining or supporting the initiative:
musicfreedomday.org/?p=713
GRAPHICS
Music Freedom Day logo’s in high resolusion for download:
freemuse.org/sw41035.asp#516_43158
Web-banners for your home page:
freemuse.org/sw15348.asp
AUDIO
Downloadable music and audio for broadcasters:
freemuse.org/sw41035.asp#516_38094
SOCIAL MEDIA
Music Freedom Day 2012 calendar event page on Facebook:
facebook.com/freemusesec#!/events/213220972066127/
Freemuse’s page on Facebook:
facebook.com/freemusesec
LAST YEAR
3 March 2011 was also celebrated in more than 20 countries by musicians, music clubs, cultural institutions, broadcasters and media…
• Pictures from Music Freedom Day 2011: musicfreedomday.org/?p=385
• Media coverage of the 2011-events: musicfreedomday.org/?p=315
• Video from one of the 2011-events: youtube.com
In: Posts from Freemuse
Images from 3 March 2012
Music Freedom Day in Peshawar, Pakistan
Music Freedom Day in Islamabad, Pakistan
Music Freedom Day in Yaounde, Cameroon
Music Freedom Day in Harare, Zimbabwe
Music Freedom Day in Cairo
Abazar performed in Cairo
Over Skype from Copenhagen, Freemuse Programme Manager Ole Reitov gave a presentation at the seminar in Cairo
Participants at the Music Freedom Day seminar in Cairo, Egypt
In: Posts from organisers, Posts from participants
Media coverage 2012
Islamabad
The Egyptian satelite channel CBC’s reportage about the event
Article about Music Freedom Day in Peshawar
Daily Aaj - 5 March - Pakistan
Musiki Cameroun – 5 March 2012:
‘Music Freedom Day dans l’intimité’
The KhyberWatch
The KhyberWatch – 3 March 2012:
‘World Freedom Music Day observed in Peshawar’
AMN tv – 3 March 2012:
‘Sher Alam Shinwari speaks to senior folk singer Akbar Hussain at Peshawar Press Club’
RNW - Radio Netherlands World
RNW (Radio Netherlands) – 3 March 2012:
Music Freedom Day spotlights singers without a voice
- also available in Dutch, Spanish, Indonesian, Chinese
Carl Petter Opsahls Blå Blogg
Carl Petter Opsahls Blå Blogg – 3 March 2012:
‘Forbudt musikk’
89.3KPCC
89.3KPCC – 2 March 2012:
‘Listen to the banned: Music Freedom Day to honor oppressed musicians Saturday’
Hibrido Radio, Italy
Radio Youthology, United Kingdom
Media coverage 2012: More than 40 news stories
Zimbo Jam – 12 March 2012:
‘Glen View Celebrates Music Freedom Day’
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty – 12 March 2012:
‘’Impossible Music Sessions’ Put Spotlight On Censorship’
Pakistan Observer – 8 March 2012:
‘Music Freedom Day concert enthralls audience’
The Egyptian satelite channel CBC – 7 March 2012:
‘يوم حريه الموسيقى’ (youtube video clip)
Ghanaian Journal – 6 March 2012:
‘Respect musicians’
Dateline Islamabad – 6 March 2012:
‘An evening of fusion’
Daily Aaj, Pakistan – 5 March 2012:
‘Music Freedom Day’
The Frontier Post, Pakistan – 5 March 2012:
‘Events staged to mark World Music Freedom Day’
Musiki Cameroun – 5 March 2012:
‘Music Freedom Day dans l’intimité’
The News, Pakistan – 4 March 2012:
‘Events staged to mark World Music Freedom Day’
Egypt Independent – 4 March 2012:
‘Cairo’s Music Freedom Day celebrations break ‘taboos’’
Egyptian media coverage – in Arabic language:
www.egyptindependent.com
www3.youm7.com
www.mawaly.com
www.dawshafan.com
www.ismailia.me
alpadia.com
More links:
facebook.com/NoonCreativeEnterprise
AK Rockefeller – 4 March 2012:
‘West Papua: Violence and oppression against musicians in forgotten conflict’
News & Noise – 4 March 2012:
‘“Please, boycott the Eurovision Song Contest” – Interview with Cirttan’
The Express Tribune, Pakistan – 3 March 2012:
‘In the worst of times, K-P sang along’
KhyberWatch – 3 March 2012:
‘World Freedom Music Day observed in Peshawar’
AMN tv, Pakistan – 3 March 2012:
‘Sher Alam Shinwari speaks to senior folk singer Akbar Hussain at Peshawar Press Club’
RNW (Radio Netherlands) – 3 March 2012:
Music Freedom Day spotlights singers without a voice
- also available in Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Indonesian and Spanish
Bianet.org / BiaMag – 3 March 2012:
‘Bugün 3 Mart, Müzik Doluyor İnsan’
BiaMag – 3 March 2012:
‘Aborjinistan’da Dersim’i Görmek’
Carl Petter Opsahls Blå Blogg – 3 March 2012:
‘Forbudt musikk’
IFEX – 2 March 2012:
‘MFWA-MUSIGA statement marking Music Freedom Day’
Media Foundation for West Africa – 2 March 2012:
‘MFWA/ MUSIGA Press Release on Music Freedom Day’
89.3KPCC – 2 March 2012:
‘Listen to the banned: Music Freedom Day to honor oppressed musicians Saturday’
SR, Swedish Radio – 2 March 2012:
‘Jag förlorade intresset för politiken för länge sedan’
Göteborgs-Posten, Sweden – 2 March 2012:
‘Freedom’
The Black Bottom – 29 February 2012:
‘Music Freedom Day 2012 is marked in 19 different countries world-wide’
Voice of America – 29 February 2012:
‘Music Freedom Day a Challenge in Zimbabwe’
Niuzer – 27 February 2012:
‘Music Freedom Day Is Coming To Hungary To Bakelit Multi Art Center On 3 March’
Documentation 2012
PAKISTAN
IPAC – 3 March 2012:
‘Music Freedom Day – Music will not be silenced’
USA
Impossible Music Session 5 – 3 March 2012:
Video documentation – 3 minutes video clip
Video documentation – 52 minutes video
Music promoting Music Freedom Day
Todd Barrow supports Music Freedom Day 2012
Singer and composer Todd Barrow writes from Midlothian in Texas, USA: “I would like to show my support by sending a song to support the cause. The name of the song is “Higher Ground (miles & miles)”, which speaks about musical expression. I have a desire to support musicians and artists around the world.
Best Wishes,
Todd Barrow
www.reverbnation.com/ToddBarrow
Listen to the song
Boy del Mundo raised awareness for Music Freedom Day
Boy del Mundo released a new single, Swiss Electrocution from upcoming album Luma Croma, to support Music Freedom Day 2011. The band wrote on their home page that they are looking for people who’d like to be involved in making the video for this single.
Peer Saer supports Music Freedom Day
| From: Peer Saer Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 8:49 AM To: freemuse@freemuse.org Subject: Peer Saer support for Music Freedom Day Great initiative: Music Freedom Day! In support I dedicate an instrumental guitar improvisation: Schemertijd [Dutch title: twilight time]. You may do with this track whatever you want in support of Music Freedom Day. I also made a link from my webspace to the information about Music Freedom Day, and I put the gif annimation on my front page in support: www.peersaer.webs.com I am a quite unknown and still ignored musician from the Netherlands, at present mainly focused on radio broadcasts and internet music sharing. I support the Freedom for travellers, refugees and citizens chained in oppressive systems. Peer Saer The Netherlands |
Right-click here to download the song in mp3-format
| Music for broadcasters MFD Signature song no 1 Song against music censorship in Algeria Recorded for Freemuse and the Music Freedom Day, the rap song ’152 mesures contre la censure’ features 10 rappers who are concerned with censorship issues in Algeria. Read more… MFD Signature song no 2 Song against music censorship in Iran Recorded for Freemuse and the Music Freedom Day, the emotional song ‘Navai’ features the Iranian singer Marjan Vahdat in a musical collaboration with the British guitarist Jason Carter. Read more… Download Radio broadcasters can download the songs above in broadcast quality here: MFD_Songs_2011.zip Banned Burmese music The singer and human rights activist Win Maw has been imprisoned in Burma since 2008. Nevertheless, he continues his struggle for freedom of expression from the prison. In February 2011, Freemuse received three new songs from him. Listen to or download the songs… |
|
Music Freedom Reports 2012
For the Music Freedom Day 2012 we have prepared a series of Music Freedom Reports including interviews (video and audio) for those of you who produce radio broadcasts, and for general use in the press world-wide, free of charge, on the occasion of Music Freedom Day.
The following seven Music Freedom Reports are ready, and the last one – from Somalia – is currently being prepared:
1. Rose Skelton: Côte d’Ivoire – country report
2. Javed Aziz Khan: Pakistan – country report
3. Saïd Khatibi: Libya – country report
- in French and in English language
4. Clara Moksha: West Papua – country report plus video
5. Télesphore Mba Bizo and Maxwell Sibanda: Music and politics in Africa
- in French and in English language
6. Nicklas Wallén: Azerbaijan – interview article plus video
Still being prepared:
7. Daniel Gerstle: Somalia – video interviews. (First draft can be seen here)
8. Columbus Mavhunga: Zimbabwe – interview article plus audio files
Inspiration for musicians who already have a concert scheduled on 3 March 2012
Are you a musician who already have scheduled a performance on 3 March – and would you like to join the Music Freedom Day campaign?
Music Freedom Day is an “advocacy and awareness event”. By simply including a dedication from the stage, or in a live radio interview, a presentation, or on your concert poster, you are automatically part of the global event.
Whether you are a school choir or a world famous band you can make a difference and show your solidarity with colleagues around the world who suffer from censorship, blacklisting, bans, repression, death threats, imprisonment or harassments.
Freemuse does not expect any financial contributions, but we invite bands, musicians, choirs, orchestra and individuals to join us. Should you wish to join, you are most welcome to make use of the “dedication samples” below, or create your own. If you send us a note we will also publish your name and place of the event here on our website.
You may use all our material for free, as long as you state the source: Freemuse.
(On websites preferably with a clickable link which points at www.freemuse.org or www.musicfreedomday.org)
What to say?
Here are six different suggestions to what you could tell your audience during performances on 3 March, or in the week up til 3 March 2008. You could also place a dedication text on your poster, or on your website.
Feel free to make other dedications or to change our suggestions so they that feel right when you say them:
Dedication – example #1
“This performance is part of Music Freedom Day – an annual global event advocating freedom of musical expression. We join colleagues round the world and Freemuse – The World Forum on Music and Censorship – in their advocacy of human rights.”
Dedication – example #2
“All around the world thousands of our musical colleagues are censored by regimes who do not subscribe to musicians’ and composers’ right to freedom of musical expression.
Tonight we join thousands of music lovers in celebrating Music Freedom Day – organised by Freemuse, the World Forum on Music & Censorship.
We thank you for supporting musicians’ and composers’ right to freedom of expression.”
Dedication – example #3
“Can you imagine a country without music? Well, the Taliban in Afghanistan can. They are trying hard to stop everyone there from playing music, blowing up CD-shops with bombs, and giving fines to people who play music in their cars.
Today we join colleagues round the world and celebrate Music Freedom Day and the right to freedom of musical expression
Freemuse is an organisation advocating our rights to musical freedom. Their motto is “Music will not be silenced” – let’s join them.”
Dedication – example #4
“Imagine the world without music. Or imagine a world where we are told what to play, what to sing and even what we may listen to in the privacy of our own homes. That world already exists. In more countries that you might imagine, musicians and composers are under threat. And that threat is growing.
Today we therefore join Freemuse – the World Forum on Music & Censorship – and colleagues all over the world in the celebration of Music Freedom Day. This concert is dedicated to the freedom of musical expression, and the motto is Music will not be silenced ”
Dedication – example #5
“Music and musicians have always generated enemies. Stalin censored modern composers. Hitler banned all jazz music and music by Jewish composers. US media censored the country band Dixie Chicks, and the Taliban in Afghanistan still tries to stop all music whatsoever.
Today we celebrate Music Freedom Day – an annual global event advocating freedom of musical expression. We join colleagues round the world and Freemuse – The World Forum on Music & Censorship – in their advocacy of human rights, and we say “Music will not be silenced” ”
Dedication – example #6
“Today ( / this week) we celebrate “Music Freedom Day” together with colleagues round the world. We dedicate this concert (/ song) to our fellow musicians* who have been banned, and to the work of Freemuse – the World Forum on Music & Censorship.”
(* see list of artists )
Spread the word!
• You can place a music freedom day banner on your home page, (clickable, referring people to www.musicfreedomday.org when they click on the banner)
• You can place a little “ad” in the signature in the bottom of your emails, saying something like:
Music Freedom Day: 3 March 2012.
www.musicfreedomday.org
or:
Music Freedom Day
Musicians and broadcasters participate in
a global event on the subject of music and
censorship on 3 March 2012. Join us!
Read more on www.musicfreedomday.org
(…or simply place a little clickable banner there.)
• You can tell your musician friends about the event, about this page on musicfreedomday.org, and that they can also join.
• You can spread the word by telling about this event in your private blog, in the online music forums which you are a member of, or by suggesting to your friends on Facebook that they should press ‘I like’ to www.facebook.com/freemusesec
• Come up with more ideas, and send them to us.
Let us know what you plan to do, so that we can inform about it on this Music Freedom Day home page. Send an e-mail to web editor Mik Aidt at Freemuse (mik . aidt @ freemuse . org), so we can include your name on this page: http://musicfreedomday.org/?p=647
Music Freedom Day in Tropentheater, Amsterdam
Press release from Tropentheater – 3 February 2012
On Saturday 3 March Tropentheater in Amsterdam presents a program to ask international attention for Music Freedom Day. On this day there will be an international focus on music censorship worldwide. In the afternoon from 2 PM onwards there will be a discussion about the Internet paradox of censorship in music, and a performance by the Tibetan singer Namgyal Lhamo. The film Tibet in Song by Ngawang Choephel will be shown in the evening, starting at 7:30 PM.
The theme of this Music Freedom Day is “The internet paradox: music censorship and distribution possibilities.” Where Internet gives opportunities to musicians in exile to distribute their music, on the other hand it is also a tool for censorship. Think of iTunes that for example tells artists to change titles of their music.
Debate
In the afternoon there is a debate with the following speakers: Francisco van Jole (internet journalist), Mina Saadadi (born in Iran and founder of ShahrzadNews.org, a news site about issues which are ignored in Iran) and Frank Kouwenhoven (China expert). The Tibetan singer Namgyal Lhamo, also called the Nightingale of Tibet, will give a performance. She received several music awards including the Tibetan music prize in 2007 in the category of best female singer. Since 1980 Namgyal Lhamo lives in the Netherlands.
This afternoon program has a free entrance, but reservation is required at tel: (020) 500 5688.
Film from Tibet
The performance of Namgyal Lhamo is a nice transition to the evening programme: the film ‘Tibet in Song’, which starts at 7.30 PM. Followed by an interview with Christa Meindertsma, director of Prince Claus Fund (subject). The Soeterijn Café offers tapas between program components.
The film ‘Tibet in Song’ (2008) is both a celebration of traditional Tibetan folk music and a harrowing journey into the past fifty years of cultural repression inside Chinese controlled Tibet. Director and former Tibetan political prisoner, Ngawang Choephel, weaves a story of beauty, pain, brutality and resilience, introducing Tibet to the world in a way never before seen on film.
The beauty of traditional Tibetan folk music is showcased through a variety of working songs, songs about family and the beauty of the land. These rarely seen performances are deftly juxtaposed against startling footage of the early days of the Chinese invasion and a concise explanation of the factors leading to the Dalai Lama’s flight into exile in 1959. Ngawang Choephel sets the stage for a unique exploration of the Chinese impact on Tibetans inside Tibet.
What follows is a heartbreaking tale of cultural exploitation and resistance, which includes Ngawangs’ own eventual imprisonment for recording the very songs at the center of the film. Tibet in Song provides raw and uncensored look at Tibet as it stands today, a country plagued by Chinese brutality, yet willing to fight for the existence of its unique cultural heritage.
‘Tibet in Song’ is directed by Ngawang Choephel, and contains both original music composed by Ngawang himself, and an array of traditional folk songs sung by native Tibetans.
The film is English and Tibetan spoken and has English subtitles.
- – -
Tropentheater organizes this program in collaboration with Freemuse – World Forum on music and censorship – from Copenhagen and Bake Society: The Performing Arts World Wide.
Debate and concert: beginning 14.00 pm, admission free, reservation is required via the box office of Tropentheater (020) 500 5688, first served.
Film Tibet in Song starts at 07.30 PM, entrance fee: 9.00 euros (reduction price: 8.00 euros).
Tropentheater, Linnaeusstraat 2, Amsterdam
Tickets and information: 020-5688 500 and www.tropentheater.nl
_____________________________________________________________________________
Note to editors: More information, interviews and images can be obtained from Anita Rosmolen, Tropentheater: Tel: (020) 5688 241 or e-mail: a.rosmolen () kit.nl.
Footage can also be downloaded from www.tropentheater.nl, see press.
In: Posts from organisers
Download logo for t-shirt
Vector-files for t-shirt print
In: Posts from Freemuse
Activities on Music Freedom Day 2012
MUSIC FREEDOM DAY 2012 IS MARKED IN 22 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WORLD-WIDE:
AFGHANISTAN
KABUL
[EVENT] At the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, staff and students of the school organise the following activities:
- Open discussion with the students and teachers and guest about the “Music Freedom in Afghanistan”. Testimonials, recordings, and pictures.
- Mini-concert performed by Afghanistan National Institute of Music students. Presentation of the Girls Ensemble of ANIM.
- “Kabul Story Teller” workshop – a project who combines Afghan traditional stories of Afghanistan, music and paintings created by the participants of the workshop.
ARGENTINA
NEUQUEN
[RADIO] Planeta Musical Sur which is broadcast by Radio Calf University in Neuquen, Argentina, dedicates its 3 March issue to Music Freedom Day. It will be broadcast on Saturday from 19 to 20 pm and can be heard online here:
www.fm1037online.com.ar
CAMEROON
YAOUNDE
[EVENT] Arterial Network organises a live concert and a round table with artists, cultural activists and journalists around the topic of freedom of artistic expression and music censorship.
facebook.com/arterialnetworkcameroon
Yaounde poster - click to enlarge
CZECH REPUBLIC
PRAHA
[RADIO] Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s Shaheen Buneri plans to produce a special report for RFE/RL Mashaal Radio on Music Freedom Day.
DENMARK
COPENHAGEN
[CONCERT EVENT] ‘Release the music’: concerts and CD release party.
On Saturday 3 March, the locals of Copenhagen will have the opportunity to participate in – and celebrate – Music Freedom Day in Nørrebrohallen.
Bazar Music Shop publishes a new compilation album on the day with young rap artists from Copenhagen’s hip-hop environment. An album of this kind which in certain countries could result in persecution, imprisonment, torture or murder.
The evening will feature approximately 20 rap concerts with, among others Blac Toros Click (Sultan), Valiki, Lagix, Ethanol, Khani, Faraz, Alx, Feras, B-Royal, Zeshan, Malik Big Brother, Fabeldyrt, Frank Godfellas, and Elias, while Pato and DJ Jason Whut glue the festival together with alternative rap and hip-hop from all over the world.
Admission: DKK 30.
Time: 5 pm to 10 pm.
Place: Nørrebrohallen, Mimersgade 69, 2200 Copenhagen N
• www.bazarmusicshop.dk
• Facebook page for the event
Copenhagen poster - Click to enlarge
EGYPT/SUDAN
CAIRO
[SEMINAR EVENT] 1) Music Freedom Day seminar on 3 March
12 noon: Introducing Freemuse live via skype from Denmark: Programme Manager Mr. Ole Reitov, followed by Ramy Essam on Freemuse Awards, Abazar Hamid on Music Freedom Day and Nada Sabet on music groups in Cairo.
1 pm: Discussion on the right to freedom of expression for the music industry
2 pm: Line up of musical performances, see below
[CONCERT EVENT] 2) Music Freedom Day event: ‘Alfan Midan’
Many artists and bands are confirming to be willing to perform at the Alfan Midan March event which will be held on Music Freedom day, 3 March, starting from 2 pm. Among them are:
• Ramy Essam
• Abazar Hamid and Hope Choir
• Dina el Wadidi
Event Invitation in English and Arabic langauge
[MEDIA EVENT] 3) TV-programme and interview on 25 Jan TV Channel
25 Jan TV started filming a documentary film about the Sudanese Abazar Hamid’s story as an exiled musician in Egypt, and they are documenting the preparations to Music Freedom Dday 2012, focusing on the Hope Choir rehearsals. The programme will be aired on 3 March 2012 among a series of special programmes about the Music Freedom Day 2012 in Cairo.
facebook.com/events/219835284782185
GERMANY
HANNOVER
[RADIO] Radio Flora will join Music Freedom Day 2012 again with a special programme on 3 March at 10 p.m., and possibly more.
Livestream on www.radioflora.de
GHANA
ACCRA
[CONCERT EVENT] Organisers in Ghana are planning a simple, small programme. The Music Union of Ghana might possibly collaborate. More information later on.
HUNGARY
BUDAPEST
[EVENT] Music Freedom Day Budapest 2012 at Bakelit Multi Art Center on 3 March 2012 from 11am to 02am
Bakelit MAC organizes a whole day full of music, dance, theatre, film and open discussions raising attention to music censorship and artist discrimination. Moreover the event will highlight gentle and loveable ways of intercontinental cooperations from Africa to Transylvania.
MUSIC
- Romano Glaszo (gipsy folk band)
- Downtown Budapest Percussion Group
- Hanem (tango)
- Drama Sutra (theatre/drama music)
- Choir and Chamber Orchestra of Vörösmarty Secondary School (classical and modern music)
- Moldva Chango Folk Band (Transylvanian music)
- Budapest DC (rock)
- 911Q3 (alternative experimental modern music) – album release concert!
- Paddy At The Gas Station (world music, with Irish folk musician)
- Vacuum (modern acoustic band)
- Bongo Man (authentic African folk music with African musicians)
DANCE
- Bongo Man African dance classes
- Buda Folk Band/ Flame of Fire band with dance
WORKSHOPS
- Theatre/drama music training by Gábor Pap
- Sound studio training, workshop, and interactive lesson at Bakelit Sound Studio with formerly taken music videos as well by Dávid Sólyom
FILM
- Tomas Rafa (Oscar Capen Award winner video artist): New Nacionalism In The Heart of Europe (60 min. document film) your-art.sk – www.newnationalism.eu
THEATRE
- Trainingspot Company music & theatre
- Márta Ladjánszki: Margo&Barbida (duet)
- African choreographer Omotunde Komolafe leads two dancers (duet of an African and a Hungarian dancer)
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
‘Democracy of Sound’
Péter Molnár (university professor, anti-racist activist, he just launched a book in New York, title: Speech of Hate), Katalin Szalay (music composer), Lídia Nádori (literature translator), Balázs Wizner (musician), Gábor Pap (music composer, musician, creative music teacher, critic, director, theatre man), Márta Ladjánszki (head of L1danceFest and art director of L1 Contemporary Dance Association, contemporary dance choreographer ), Zsolt Varga (president of L1 Contemporary Dance Association, music composer, musician), Omotunde Komolafe (musician, dance teacher, stylist, main organizer of a Sziget Festival’s Afrika Village, founder of African-Hungarian Association)
Time table – The programme hour by hour
Budapest poster - Click to enlarge
ITALY
BOLOGNA
[NATIONAL RADIO EVENT] Again this year, Hibrido Radio in Italy will mark the Music Freedom Day on 3 March with an amazing amount of research and debate.
The radio will present testimonials about censorship by independent artists from Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Cuba, Argentina, Venezuela and Italy (and more) will these testimonials will be broadcasted during the whole week up to 3 March. Also:
• Hibrido’s leading radio show called Hibrido (in Spanish language) by Andres Moncada (Mexico City) will present a special about the Music Freedom Day on Thursday 1 March 2012 and on Saturday 3 March.
• The Skankaround radio show will do the same with a special focus on reggae music scenario.
• On Wednesday 29 February as well as on Saturday 3 March, Camper radio show in Italian language by Francesco Quero (Italy) will present a special radio show about the Music Freedom Day with interviews with Italian artists about music freedom and censorship.
• On Wednesday 29 February and Friday 2 March Radio Hibrido will put on air a one hour and 30 minutes special about censored authors, combined with music from the Freemuse Compilation CDs. In the jingles of the station, Hibrido will invite to visit the musicfreedomday.org and freemuse.org web pages and get more informations about these compilations.
• In Bologna, Bo Ground – a musical association for local underground music – and Hibrido Radio – an international association for the promotion of music – will join the initiative and, together, will create two days of debates and concerts for the right to freely diffuse ideas, words, sounds and people .
The debates will be video streamed on the home page of Hibrido Radio, www.hibridoradio.com
This is the programme for the two days:
Saturday 3 March:
6 PM: Round table with musicians and musical operators debate freedom and censorship in the musical world. Artists and musicians from Bologna area will join.
Coordinated and moderated by Cinzia Martelli (Hibrido Radio) and Chiara Stefani (Bo Ground).
9 PM: Concerts of local emerging rock bands – coordinated by Bo Ground Association
Sunday 4 March:
6 PM: Round tables on the topic: ‘Freedom and Censorship in the radio and medias world’.
Featuring radio operators from independent radios and medias from Bologna area.
Coordinated and moderated by Cinzia Martelli (Hibrido Radio) and Chiara Stefani (Bo Ground).
9 PM: Concerts of emerging rock bands – coordinated by Bo Ground Association
The event is created in collaboration with Centro Katia Bertasi.
News about the Music Freedom Day initiatives and Freemuse in Hibrido can be found at the radios’ website on www.hibridoradio.com and on the website of the cultural association which is behind the radio, www.hibridonet.com
Poster for Hibrido's event - Click to enlarge
JORDAN
RURAL AREAS OUTSIDE OF AMMAN
[CONCERT EVENT] Ahmad Zatari once again organizes the People’s Choir. The event will be produced and performed in the rural areas outside the capital Amman. Ahmad Zatari is also planning a tour in some cities. More information later on.
NETHERLANDS
AMSTERDAM
[SEMINAR - FILM SCREENING - PERFORMANCE] On Saturday 3 March Tropentheater in Amsterdam presents a program to ask international attention for Music Freedom Day. In the afternoon from 2 PM onwards there will be a discussion about the Internet paradox of censorship in music, and a performance by the Tibetan singer Namgyal Lhamo. The film ‘Tibet in Song’ by Ngawang Choephel will be shown in the evening, starting at 7:30 PM.
Royal Tropical Institute in Linnaeusstraat: tropentheater.nl
Press release of 3 February 2012
NORWAY
OSLO
[RADIO] In NRK – the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation – the programme Jungeltelegrafen features an interview with Amel Mathlouti from Tunisia and Eric Wainaina from Kenya on the occasion of Music Freedom Day, and they play music from Ferhat Tunc’s new album which is launched on 2 March.
[CONCERT] Turkish-Kurdish singer Ferhat Tunc performs in Oslo in Kulturkirken Jakob on 3 March 2012, organized by Kirkelig Kulturverksted.
Read more: kkv.no/en/Music/Utgivelser/2012/Ferhat-Tunc
Ferhat Tunc's new album, 'Dersim'
PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD
[EVENT] ‘Music will not be silenced’
The Institute for Preservation of Art and Culture (IPAC), Folklore Society of Pakistan and Lok Virsa invite to a concert to celebrate the Music Freedom Day in Islamabad.
This concert is a rare treat for music enthusiasts as we take you on a musical journey that includes folk tunes from the wild west frontiers of Pakistan, the vast wildernesses of Tibet and Mongolia, the sublime Jazz groves of North America and the melodic brilliance of the Indian Subcontinent.
Featuring artists: Taimur Khan on Sarangi, Farhan Bogra on Rabab and Sarfaraz Anwar on Tabla. Visiting musicians from abroad include the Chinese folk singer Zhang Mi and Canadian Jazz musicians Gerald Sholomenko and James Stevens.
Venue: Media Center Auditorium, Lok Virsa Complex, Islamabad.
Setting: Indoor, Casual, floor seating.
Timing: Saturday the 3rd of March. Gates will open at 6:00pm; event will start at 6:30pm sharp.
Contribution: Rs. 1,000 regular, Rs. 600 for students with valid student ID cards, free entry for accompanying infants.
Please note: Due to limited seating capacity it is requested to kindly get your tickets in advance!
Advance tickets available at: Kuch Khaas, H#1, St.#1, Main Margalla Road, Opposite trail 3, F-6/3, Islamabad
Official Radio Partners: City FM 89
Event web link: facebook.com/events/304651262931431
Click to open PDF in A4-format
SWAT
Suvastu Art & Culture Association (SACA) Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa is going to mark Music Freedom Day 2012 by arranging music concert in District Swat of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa in Pakistan. This area has been hit by man made and natural disasters. Some of the local artists and musicians have been killed while most of the musicians were displaced. The militancy in the area and government operation against the non state actors have created hurdles for local musicians.
The purpose of the celebration is to reactivate the local music and musicians.
Suvastu Art & Culture Association, with the financial support from Swat Participatory Council (www.spcswat.org) will arrange music concert on 3 March 2012. Apart from others, local journalists, legislators, social and political activists have been invited to the concert. During the concert, SACA will highlight the role of music in peace building globally.
PESHAWAR
Culture Journalists Forum, BKTEF, TDK and Khyberwatch have planned a walk-and-sit in the Peshawar Press Club.
SENEGAL
DAKAR
[DJ SHOW] 16h-17h: DJ Zee Master, DJ Dafleks, DJ Spapi
[SEMINAR] 17h-19h: Conference Animee par Keyti: Musique et Liberte d‘Expression au Senegal
[FILM] 19h-20h: Projection de Film avec Nomadic Wax
‘Democracy in Dakar’
[CONCERT] 20h-23h: Concert de Hip Hop
Featuring:
• Matador
• Xuman
• Simon
• Pps
• Tigrim Bi
• 5 Kiem
• Baatsen Fune
• Syndikate 21
• Alien Zik
• Sen Kumpe
Entree gratuite / free entry
The event is organized by Africulturban.
Infoline: 33 853 24 22
E-mail: hiphopakademy@gmail.com
Dakar poster - Click to enlarge
SIERRA LEONE
FREETOWN
[EVENTS] 2 March: Concert with Afro Combo Dance Band at 7:00 pm to midnight at China Friendship House. Interview with the Afro Combo Dance Band on views on the state of music and freedom of expression in Sierra Leone.
3 March: Seminar at Culture Radio House at 10 am.
Speakers: President of the Sierra Leone All Stars Association.
Contributions: Artists views on music censorship. Presentation of songs which have been subject to censorship.
[RADIO] 2 March: Radio program on music censorship in Culture Radio.
Several radio stations will report on the events: Culture Radio, Free Radio, Universal Radio, and Star Radio.
Freetown poster - Click to enlarge
SPAIN – CATALONIA
BARCELONA
[RADIO] At Radio Catalunya, ICat FM, the radio programme ‘Hidrogen’ marks the international Music Freedom Day in its fifth consecutive year of supporting the event. Hydrogen defends the right of freedom of musical expression with a special programme broadcast on Sunday 26 February at midnight featuring a selection of musical artists who have suffered or suffer censorship of their works, who have been exiled or who are victims of the silence of the media in their respective countries.
The programme is produced and presented by Albert Reguant.
www.icatfm.cat
SWEDEN
GOTHENBURG
[EVENT] At Konstepidemin Music Freedom Day will be marked for the second time:
• “Jag var på besök i världen” (“I Visited the World”) – Singing string quartet Stråf meets Gothenburg composer Stefan Forssén and Estonian National Poet Doris Kareva. A poetic concert, an experience somewhere in the space between jazz, folk and contemporary music.
• Lilla Änglaspel – Thomas Jäderlund, saxophone and Stefan Forssén, piano improvise freely over evergreens, operetta songs and Forssén originals. Spontaneous singing might occur too.
Konstepidemin, Paviljong 8 at 6 pm.
More info at www.konstepidemin.se
GOTHENBURG
[EVENT] Band Doomdogs performs in Gothenburg in the evening on Music Freedom Day and have decided to dedicate their entire concert to Music Freedom Day.
www.reverbnation.com/doomdogs
NATIONWIDE
[RADIO EVENT] Theme on Swedish Radio P2
Önska
On 27 February, Monday in the week leading up to Music Freedom Day, the national Swedish radio channel P2 broadcasted a theme program about music and commitment, with reference to the Music Freedom Day on 3 March and asking listeners to think ahead and continue to select music on this basis. There will be a final in the programme Önska on P2 on Saturday 3 March.
Mitt i musiken
Also during the week, the programme Mitt i musiken will highlight a number of current examples of music and freedom of expression.
Music Freedom Day theme day on Saturday 3 March:
Classical Saturday Morning on P2 with Eva Sjöstrand
“Only in freedom” is a motto for the programme after Margareta Melin’s poem set to music by Elise Einarsdotter: “Only in freedom my bird will sing…” So many have sung and dreamed of freedom and sung themselves to that, such as the Estonians and Latvians. A composer whose music will be played is Latvian Peteris Vasks, others are David Diamond and Lars Gullin. After this extra-long classical morning on P2, listeners will be familiar with the meaning of the Latin prayer Dona Nobis Pacem.
Felicia
On this day, Felicia will play songs about the little man’s struggle against power and authority. The programme features an interview from Paris with the Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi who has become a symbol of the Arab spring. In the midst of the revolution in Tunisia, she stood up in the crowd among armed soldiers and sang. Felicia is loaded with songs from different eras, songs for democracy, freedom and justice.
P2 Live Classical
P2 Live Classical will broadcast a programme called ‘Music Freedom Day – When the truth is called a lie’. Can a poem or a piece of music change consciousness of the world we live in? What does a totalitarian state do for an artist?
Based on two great artists’ life stories during the worst period of Stalinism in the Soviet Union, the programme reports on artists’ attempt to be honest in a time when truth was called a lie.
By Lars Jonsson, presentation and piano, Margareta Hallin, recitation, Yevgeny Popov and Yevgeny Zhuk, violin, Madeleine Przybyl, viola, and Vache Bagratuni, cello. Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Harding.
The first Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8 in C minor (1960).
The second Anna Akhmatova: Requiem (Poetry collection dedicated to the victims of Stalinism).
The third Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in C minor (1936).
In the evening
it is time for the opera and what could be better than Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” in a live broadcast from the Metropolitan in New York.
P2 will end the evening with works by Karel Husa (Music for Prague 1968), Veijo Tormis (Iron curse) and the Chinese composer Chen Yi who grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution.
Press release in Swedish language
THAILAND
BANGKOK
[CONFERENCE EVENT] Freedom to Create – Freedom to Communicate – Freedom to Participate – A Symposium by the InterMusic Center, Maha Chulalongkorn Building at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok
Theme Art and Access: Exploring – Promoting – Creating
Exploring Art for Social Change, Art for Citizenship Education, Art Activities for Children and Elderly.
Art in Hospitals, and Art in Prisons.
Promoting Freedom of Artistic Expression. Social Inclusion through the Arts. Art Education for Cultural Continuity, and Art in Public Spaces.
Creating New Art Avenues, New Meeting Places, New Opportunities for Arts Education, and Art for All.
Languages: English and Thai.
Abstracts or proposals for participation should be sent before January 7, 2012 to Kjell Skyllstad – e-mail: kmskylls (a) yahoo.com
No registration fee. Free lunch and coffee breaks.
Print / download programme in PDF-format: Art and Access Conference Programme
UNITED KINGDOM
BIRMINGHAM
[RADIO] Ulfah Arts & Media will produce a 24 hour live broadcast on their youth-led radio station – www.radioy.co.uk. They did the same last year. Jay Alom, James Levett and Shaun Baxter will be leading on the broadcast.
www.ulfaharts.co.uk – www.radioyouthology.net
Facebook 1: www.facebook/ulfaharts
Facebook 2: www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Youthology
LONDON
[RADIO] Resonance 104.4FM
DJ Fari Bradley and Free Lab Radio will again this year dedicate an hour’s radio show to Music Freedom Day on Saturday 3 March 11pm-midnight, on Resonance 104.4FM. Twice nominated for a Sony Award, Resonance104.4fm is the world’s first art-music radio station, established by London Musicians’ Collective in 2002. Although on a community licence, Resonance 104.4FM has gained cult status and has as many listeners online as some national BBC stations.
www.resonancefm.com
www.facebook.com/FreeLabRadio
USA
NEW YORK
[CONCERT EVENT] In New York City, at Impossible Music Session 5 in Brooklyn, an international ensemble will perform the music of Arya Aramnejad, an Iranian pop singer currently being held by the Iranian authorities because of his vocal support of the Green Movement.
The Impossible Music Sessions were launched on Music Freedom Day in 2010 and feature the music of an artist who cannot be there.
Read more: www.impossiblemusic.org/session-5.html
New York poster - Click to enlarge
ZIMBABWE
HARARE
[FESTIVAL EVENT] In the township of Glen Norah, Music Freedom Day will be marked with a five-hour festival featuring great socially and politically conscious hip-hop and spoken word acts of Zimbabwe, including:
• NTM
• Evolution
• Mojo Menace
• San Sebb
• T Shoc
• Nu Alliance
…And many more.
Glen View 3, running from 3pm to 8pm.
500 people are expected to attend.
Organized by Magamba Cultural Activist Network and Comrade Fatso.
www.magambanetwork.com
BULAWAYO
[RADIO]
On Music Freedom Day, Radio Zicora broadcasts a programme with interviews with Bulawayo artists on how music censorship affects them. They hope to have interviews with artists whose music was banned on Zim radio and talk to stake holders in the music industry.
Zicora broadcasts on 5890 khz shortwave between 6-7pm. They are also going to have the programme distributed as a podcast on www.zicora.com.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Norwegian-Pakistani singer Deeyah who is based in the US will be officially launching the Fuuse Mousiqi website in celebration of Music Freedom Day on 3 March: www.fuuse-mousiqi.com
MORE INFORMATION
See who the Music Freedom Day partners were last year, in 2011.
SPECIAL REPORTS FOR THE DAY
In: Posts from organisers, Posts from participants
Count-down to 3 March 2012
Music Freedom Day celebrates freedom of musical expression world-wide on 3 March 2012
Musicians and composers rights to freedom of expression are violated worldwide. Hundreds of musicians are imprisoned censored and persecuted because of their music or lyrics.
Music Freedom Day provides an opportunity to take a thorough look at the subject – in your own language, with your own perspective and in a manner that suits you. You can organise a concert or a seminar, produce a radio feature, show a film, write an article, or dedicate a song to Music Freedom Day if you are performing on this day.
This website for Music Freedom Day is provided as a forum for the Music Freedom Day activitsts and organisers.
Role of Freemuse
Freemuse does not fund Music Freedom Day events but we are happy to advise and inspire you. Our role is primarily to provide coordination, knowledge and awareness. For the 2012-event, Freemuse plans to expand its own Music Freedom Day activities with an in-depth series of new, unique articles about music censorship in different countries and regions, and with some special media productions customized for event organizers as well as for journalists.
Would you like to join?
Drop an e-mail to Music Freedom Day’s secretariat, (info AT musicfreedomday.org), when you have made up your mind and decided to join.