Swaziland Solidarity Network Statement
26 May 2011
BUSHFIRE FESTIVAL TAKES A KNOCK AS POPULAR ARTISTS PULL OUT
As the Cultural Boycott against Swaziland intensifies, the Swaziland Solidarity Network is humbled by the response by well-known South African artists.
More South African artists are putting the democratisation of Swaziland before profits and this attitude must be lauded. In fact we hope that all pro-democracy activists will respond to this by supporting these artists’ music and attending their concerts in South Africa en masse.
The well-known music veteran, Baba Caiphus Semenya, has announced that he will not only boycott the forthcoming “Bushfire Festival” but will not be playing in Swaziland ever again until that country becomes democratic.
This is the best ever message of solidarity from a South African artist and hopefully others will emulate it.
On another note, Professor, the popular House music artists has also indicated that he will no longer be performing at the MTN/Matata show in Big Bend as previously reported in Swazi newspapers.
Another act of solidarity was announced by Deep House DJ, Black Coffee who, like Semenya, was scheduled to perform at the Bush Fire festival this weekend. He has pulled out of the event.
Further, the SSN together with the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA) continue to engage other artists to pull out of the event and declare their solidarity with the Swazi people. Currently, we are engaging renowned Zimbabwean artist Baba Oliver Mtukudzi to take the same stand and hope that he will agree.
Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]
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