Musicians continue to suffer from censorship

INSTANBUL - Zimbabwe is among countries that continue to experience music censorship from the ruling government resulting in musicians who wish to sing about the country’s on-going political and economic crisis having to do that from abroad.

Belarus, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Turkey, Cuba and China are some the countries which also continue to experience music censorship from their governments.

A musical conference, Freemuse, which held its 3rd Conference in Istanbul, Turkey with the theme entitled “Music will not be silenced”, discussed the issue of censorship and many others affecting the arts world.

A report prepared by Maxwell Sibanda, a Zimbabwean journalist and Freemuse committee executive member, said: “Censorship of music has been rife in Zimbabwe but it has been made worse by the reign of the then Minister of Information, Jonathan Moyo who blacked out foreign from being played in Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabweans have been forced to listen to the songs which were composed by government bootlickers.”

Even to this day, following Moyo’s departure from the ruling party, music which is considered against the President Robert Mugabe is never played hence many local singers have turned to gospel music which is considered non political.

The censorship has forced the Chimurenga music icon, Thomas Mapfumo, to live in exile in the United States of America. Not only musicians have suffered even the radio presenters who played music composed by those viewed as anti-government were retrenched from their jobs.

Said Sibanda: “In Zimbabwe, music has for centuries held a special place in the people’s culture and identity. Harvests, rain and hunting ceremonies, celebrations, wars and traditional rituals are all accompanied by particular songs and music. The Zimbabwean politician has also embraced music, composing catchy tunes which are spiced with campaign messages. The government began commissioning musicians to record music productions in 2000, most being songs supporting land policies. By 2005 it had recorded a number of music albums and videos. Former Information Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo wrote and composed several of the songs. The Zimbabwe 2005 parliamentary elections turned out to be a battle of songs.”

He added: “Elliot Manyika, a cabinet minister and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) national commissar and elections director composed an eight-track album called Zimbabwe 2005. Former Information Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo released his own campaign album called Phambili LeTsholotsho. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) released a set of compositions by legislator Paul Madzore which were played at their political rallies.”

The Zimbabwean musician has been speaking through music, through song. For others the right to sing freely has been curtailed by being denied airplay at state controlled radio and television stations. For others who "compose and sing the right songs", the airwaves have been their playground.”

Whilst in Ivory Coast it is almost the same story as popular reggae artist Fadal Dey lamented, some of his songs were not being played on the radio and state television as his music is considered to the rebelious.

He described censorship of music as violation of human rights.

“It pains me a lot that my music is not being played on the national radio or television. My songs are a mirror to the society I live. It is a crime to shut them out from the radio and television. People need to listen to my songs,” said Fadal.

On a good note Fadal said: “The sale of my songs have tripled because people are now curious to hear my music because of the boycott from the public radio and television.”
“I have been inspired by this gathering that I have more energy to complete my new album entitled Free Iraq. The world should know that people in Iraq are suffering and they need our support,” Fadal said at the end of the conference. He sings in French.

Shakeb Isaar, an exiled video jockey from Afghanistan, was not very lucky. He had to flee his country after receiving death threats from radical religious group. He now lives in Sweden where he got asylum.

“I would have loved to live in Afghanistan but I received threats of death from fundamental Islamic people. The government turned a blind eye on my plight. My body was ripped that I have cuts all over my body. My crime was for playing foreign music on the television,” said Isaar.

“The people who beat me asked me questions like why are you trying to change the culture, society and the belief of Afghanistan people. Some of the people who beat me up were even wearing police uniforms. I could not even trust the policemen or anyone else,” Isaar said.
Isaar is now living in Sweden where he continues to work as Tolo television entertainment correspondent.
“Though I miss my job in Afghanistan. I think Sweden is the best country for foreign immigrants who have suffered under their own people. The Swedish government helped me a lot. Now I have a lot of friends and I feel secure. I am in touch with my family in Afghanistan but I had to change my identity for my own security,” said Isaar.

In Belarus music sang in Belarusian language is assumed to oppose the state.
“Music sang in Russian language is considered to be supporting the ruling regime,” said Lemez Lovak, a British reacher who presented a report on Belarus entitled “Belarus –Hidden Truth”.
Though Turkey has almost crossed the bridge on censorship of music, the country still has a long way to go.
Hakki Bulut a Turkish artist said: “Censorship is still alive in Turkey”.
Artists from Turkey gave their testimonies on how they have suffered during different regimes and how they have managed to move on.
Ferhat Tunc a Turkish singer who was once arrested and tortured said: “Despite censorship we will continue to sing and express ourselves.

Verdat Tursali had a different opinion as he said: “Censorship is really a villain and the people who exert it should be punished.”
For the two days researchers, artists and media people discussed challenges and problems of censorship especially in closed societies.
The next conference will be held in four years time, for artists, researchers and media personnel continue to fight censorship from all corners of the world.