By Makaya – BASICS Issue #20 (July / August 2010)

Live on stage at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Gil Scott-Heron told the audience that he “hates war” and in a lengthy monologue went on to tell his fans that his Israel concert would be cancelled.

Scott-Heron is best known for his ‘70s classics ‘The Revolution will not be Televised’ and ‘The Bottle’ as well as his involvement in the 1980s South African anti-apartheid movement. His music and poetry have been consistently anti-racist and extremely critical of government regimes all over the world for over 30 years. He has influenced a whole generation of artists and activists, who were more than surprised when they learned of his Tel-Aviv tour date. Audience members at a previous concert crowded the artist, urging him to change his mind by reminding him that his decision to play in Israel was contrary to everything that he has stood for. Security had to be called in to stop the hecklers from disrupting the show.

Palestinian solidarity groups were outraged at his decision to play Israel given his longstanding commitment to fighting inequality and structural racism. Natasha Vally of the Palestine Solidarity Committee of South Africa wrote in a letter addressed to Mr.Scott-Heron: “…we call on you to cancel your event in Israel. We remember your lyrics, ’I know that their strugglin’ over there ain’t gonna free me, but we all need to be strugglin’ if we’re gonna be free’. Have you heard, brother Gil, that most of us in Johannesburg say, ‘Apartheid anywhere is apartheid everywhere’. Or in the words of Nelson Mandela, ‘South Africa will not be free until Palestine is free’.”

A Facebook page was set up by fans who were deeply saddened by his decision to play such a high-profile gig in the apartheid sate. Posted on the page was: “This is a huge mistake from an enduring cultural and political hero. Let’s see if we can change his mind.” Over 1200 people joined the page.

Scott-Heron was cheered and applauded as he made the announcement, adding that he would not play in Israel until everyone is welcome there. Fans and activists alike agree that this is great news. Musicians and artists should not give any legitimacy to this apartheid state and continue to fight to end the occupation.

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