2007–2014 Music Freedom Day 2007–2014 Compiled & edited by Sunna Reitov Korpe Report no. 12/2014 ISBN: ISBN 978-87988163-8-6 Published by Freemuse Jemtelandsgade 1, 2300 Copenhagen S., Denmark www.freemuse.org www.artsfreedom.org Copyright Freemuse, 2014-10-14 Graphic design: Sunna Reitov Korpe Cover by Mik Aidt Drawing, p. 4 & Music Freedom Day logo, by Kristina Funkeson, p. 49. Music will not be Silenced logo by Ümit Kurt, p. 49. Photos and artworks published with courtesy from partners. Editorial advisor: Marie Korpe Freemuse receives funding from The Swedish International Development Corporation Agency & The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2 MUSIC FREEDOM DAY 2007–2014 Thanks to all event organisers, collaborators and partners who have participated in Music Freedom Day. Music Freedom Day is a powerful, united manifestation to support persecuted, prosecuted and imprisoned musicians, many of whose only crime has been that they have spoken up against authorities and insisted on the right to express Special thanks to all musicians and artists, who themselves through their music. Furthermore it is a day to contributed and continue to fight for freedom of musical highlight the role and impact of music in our societies. expression worldwide, and to local sponsors and main Worldwide, musicians’ and composers’ rights to freedom of donors: expression are violated, but the strong support for Music Freedom Day every year demonstrates the will to continue the advocacy and defence for the universal rights to compose, perform and participate in musical activities. Björn Afzelius International Culture Foundation & Media houses in Canada, USA, Zimbabwe and Pakistan joined Roskilde Festival Charity Society the first global Music Freedom Day. Journalists based in India, Lebanon and Zimbabwe interviewed censored musicians as well as censoring radio executives, and shortly after their interviews were quoted in media around the world. (See media coverage p. 48). During eight years more than 100 partners and collaborators in 36 countries have joined Music Freedom Day. (See partners and organisers p. 47). Freemuse has designated 3rd of March to be Music Freedom Day. History of Music Freedom Day The idea of designating a specific day to highlight the right to freedom of musical expression was born in November 2006 in Istanbul, when Freemuse held a successful international conference on music and censorship. Initially a suggestion from Ann MacKeigan from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Music Freedom Day has been marked by organisations, musicians and media in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Australia, North– and South America. We hope that this compilation will serve as a source of inspiration for future Music Freedom Day events. Freemuse 3 Thanks to the artists who dedicated, composed and recorded songs for Music Freedom Day ‘Navai’ Jason Carter guitar, composition Marjan Vahdat, vocal Tabib Esfahani, lyrics ‘152 mesures contre la censure’ Produced by Rabah Donquishoot, Deymed and Le Micro Brise le Silence (MBS). Vocals by Deymed (MBS), Zed (Beton Bled), Pedro (Abril 75), Fullmoon (MBS), Youss, Diaz (SH), Sergio (Abril 75), Rabah Donquishoot (MBS), MC Tia (Baadmaan Krew) and Mamooth. Music by Deymed (MBS). ‘Swiss Electrocution’ Boy del Mundo ‘Higher Ground’ Todd Barrow ‘Towards Freedom’ Ahmed Ali Al Ghanem ‘Schemertijd’ Peer Saer 4 Music Freedom Day 2007 Music Freedom Day 2007 Participating countries - Canada - Czech Republic - Denmark - France - Germany - Iraq - Italy - Netherlands Jason Carter and Marjan Vahdat composed and recorded a signature - Norway song, “Navai” for Music Freedom Day 2007. - Pakistan - Spain - Sweden - United Kingdom - USA 5 Music Freedom Day in Toronto, 2007 6 Music Freedom Day 2008 Participating countries - Afghanistan - Congo-Brazzaville - Cuba - France - India - Norway - Spain - USA The line-up had a surprise guest, Swedish singer song-writer Mikael Wiehe who joined the concert. 7 Music Freedom Day in Oslo, 2008 From left: Chiwoniso Maraire, Ferhat Tunç, Mari Boine, Kris Kristofferson and Mikael Wiehe. 8 Music Freedom Day in Oslo, 2008 9 Music Freedom Day in Mumbai, 2008 Music Freedom Day in Paris, 2008 Rainbow Bridge produced a video in support of Music Freedom Day. 10 Music Freedom Day 2009 Music Freedom Day in Stockholm, 2009 Participating countries - Norway - Spain - Sweden - Zimbabwe 11 Music Freedom Day in Stockholm, 2009 Mahsa Vahdat. Photos: © Hawta foto. Ferhat Tunç. 12 Music Freedom Day in Stockholm, 2009 ‘Piece for piano and handcuffs’, composed & performed by Matti Bye. 13 Music Freedom Day in Stockholm, 2009 Music Freedom Day in Harare, 2009 On Music Freedom Day, Tao Seeger picked up the Freemuse Award 2009 on behalf of his grandfather Pete Seeger. 14 Music Freedom Day 2010 Music Freedom Day in Bologna, 2010 Participating countries - Afghanistan - Belgium - Egypt - Finland - France - Germany - India - Italy - Jordan - Netherlands - Norway - Poland - Spain - Sweden - USA 15 Music Freedom Day in Amman, 2010 Music Freedom Day in Bombay, 2010 ! 16 Music Freedom Day in The Hague, 2010 Music Freedom Day in The Hague, 2010 HET RECHT OP MUZIEK MUSIC FREEDOM MAART DAY 2010 TAKE IT EASY www.musicfreedomday.nl HOSPITAL Iraanse underground / Indie pop Brainpower. s Photo: © Marcel Terlow, Argos Photography. BRAINPOWER s ANGELO PARDO Finalist So You Think You Can Dance 2009 Presentatie cd LISTEN TO THE BANNED door Freemuse NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS Film van Bahman Ghobadi over muziekcensuur in Iran sDEBAT MET O.A. HOOFDROLSPELERS EN FREEMUSE OVER MUZIEKCENSUUR MAART sOPTREDEN HOOFDROLSPELERS (TAKE IT EASY HOSPITAL, ZIE PROGRAMMA 3 MAART) 17 Music Freedom Day in The Hague, 2010 Music Freedom Day in Gdansk, 2010 ! ! Music Freedom Day in The Hague joined Impossible Music Sessions in New York through video link. 18 Music Freedom Day 2011 Music Freedom Day in Amman, 2011 Participating countries - Afghanistan - Burma - Cameroon - Canada - Denmark - Egypt - Germany - India - Italy - Jordan - Lebanon - Netherlands - Norway - Pakistan - Serbia - Sierra Leone - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - United Kingdom - USA - Zimbabwe 19 Music Freedom Day in Bologna, 2011 Music Freedom Day in Bologna, 2011 Lapiro de Mbanga, imprisoned in Cameroon was in focus in many countries in 2011. 20 Music Freedom Day in Mbanga, 2011 Music Freedom Day in Copenhagen, 2011 The Cameroonian singer, Lapiro de Mbanga, who had been in prison for almost three years under harsh conditions, was in court on Music Freedom Day. Lapiro’s wife, Louiestte and Freemuse Programme Officer Martin Buch Larsen observed the trial. Freemuse was finally able to present the Freedom to Create Prize which had been awarded to Lapiro already in November 2009 after a Freemuse nomination. 21 Music Freedom Day in Bologna, 2011 Music Freedom Day in Birmingham, 2011 22 Music Freedom Day in Beirut, 2011 Music Freedom Day in Cairo, 2011 Sudanese artist Abazar Hamid. Music Freedom Day in Harare, 2011 The concert of AnArchy TV was dedicated to the late Egyptian artist Ahmed Basiony. 23 Music Freedom Day in New York, 2011 Music Freedom Day in United Kingdom, 2011 Music Freedom Day in Sweden, 2011 24 Music Freedom Day 2012 Music Freedom Day in Canada, 2012 Participating countries - Afghanistan - Argentina - Canada - Cameroon - Czech Republic - Denmark - Egypt - Germany - Ghana - Hungary - Italy - Jordan - Netherlands Music Freedom Day in Islamabad, 2012 - Norway - Pakistan - Senegal - Sierra Leone - Spain - Sweden - Thailand - United Kingdom - USA - Zimbabwe 25 Music Freedom Day in Islamabad, 2012 Music Freedom Day in Islamabad, 2012 26 Music Freedom Day in Budapest, 2012 Music Freedom Day in Senegal, 2012 27 Music Freedom Day in Copenhagen, 2012 Music Freedom Day in New York, 2012 28 Music Freedom Day in Yaoundé, 2012 Music Freedom Day in Yaoundé, 2012 29 Music Freedom Day in Freetown, 2012 Music Freedom Day in Freetown, 2012 Concert with Afro Combo Dance Band. 30 Music Freedom Day in Dakar, 2012 Music Freedom Day in Harare, Cairo and Copenhagen, 2012 31 Music Freedom Day 2013 Music Freedom Day in Budapest, 2013 Participating countries - Afghanistan - Cameroon - Egypt - Hungary - Italy - Norway - Pakistan - Senegal - Sierra Leone - Spain - Sweden - United Kingdom - Zimbabwe 32 Music Freedom Day in Bologna, 2013 Music Freedom Day in London, 2013 33 Music Freedom Day in Cairo, 2013 Music Freedom Day in Cairo, 2013 34 Music Freedom Day in Kabul, 2013 Music Freedom Day in Sweden, 2013 Afghanistan National Institute of Music. 35 Music Freedom Day in Harare, 2013 Music Freedom Day in Peshawar, 2013 36 Music Freedom Day in Peshawar, 2013 Music Freedom Day in Peshawar, 2013 37 Music Freedom Day in Peshawar, 2013 Music Freedom Day in Islamabad, 2013 38 Music Freedom Day in Garoua, 2013 Music Freedom Day in Garoua, 2013 39 Music Freedom Day 2014 Music Freedom Day in Yaoundé, 2014 Participating countries - Afghanistan - Australia - Cameroon - Egypt - Italy - Norway - Pakistan - Sweden - Spain - USA - Zimbabwe Music Freedom Day in Alice Springs, 2014 40 Music Freedom Day in Harare, 2014 Music Freedom Day in Bologna, 2014 41 Music Freedom Day in Oslo, 2014 Music Freedom Day in Stockholm, 2014 42 Music Freedom Day in Cairo, 2014 Music Freedom Day in Cairo, 2014 Freemuse Award winner Ramy Essam, was one of the artists performing during Music Freedom Day in Cairo. Abazar Hamid, Sudanese musician living in exile in Cairo, once again organised a Music Freedom Day event in 2014. 43 Music Freedom Day in Islamabad & Peshawar, 2014 44 Music Freedom Day in Islamabad, 2014 Akber Khamisu.