Velaphi, who started performing live music at the age of 17, is best known for his debut album ‘In The Soil’ with his band, Seed. The band’s second album, ‘Germination’ was an entrant into the afro-soul/neo R&B category at the 14th MTN South African Music Awards.

Velaphi’s music has a South African beat with a strong Afro-Cuban flavour. In 2009, Velaphi was nominated for a SAMA award and his second solo album, ‘Ikhala Kamnandi,’ is a favourite on local radio stations. Velaphi travels the African continent showcasing his music with upcoming gigs scheduled in Madagascar and Trinidad & Tobago. CLICK HERE to watch on Facebook or CLICK HERE to watch on YouTube.

In yet another success for the international BDS boycott of Israel, last month several international artists pulled out of a Berlin music festival due to its collaboration with and receiving funding from the Israeli Embassy in Germany. The cancellations came after the organization, Artists for Palestine UK, wrote to music bands urging them to respect the cultural boycott of Israel.

In a series of tweets, multi award-wining Scottish band Young Fathers, said: “Due to the addition of the Israeli government’s logo to the list of partners and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, Young Fathers regrettably will not be performing…this is a very tiny act on our behalf in the grand scale of things but one we still believe is worth it”.

DJ, artist and academic Annie Goh also cancelled her scheduled appearance on a panel discussion, she wrote on her Facebook page: “As an artist and academic, I am taking a stand against participating in the festival due to its partial sponsorship by the Israeli embassy, in solidarity with Palestinians who have called for a boycott of Israeli state institutions until they adhere to international law.”

Finnish black metal group Oranssi Pazuzu also dropped out of the festival saying that the co-funding by the Israeli embassy of the event “resulted in giving a political character to the festival.” They further explained that they “do not want to endorse any state, governance or agenda; open or hidden.”

Writing on their website, Mazzaj Rap Band said: “It did not take us a minute to know what we had to do; we will not participate in a festival that accepts the partnership with an embassy representing a state and a government led by right-wing party Likud and Netanyahu.”

Others who boycotted the festival included Hello Psychaleppo from Syria, EEK featuring Islam Chipsy from Egypt, as well as Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi. Thurston Moore, the American musician best known as a member of Sonic Youth, was among the many artists, activists and human rights organizations that welcomed the cancellations by the artists from the festival over its Israeli links.

As South Africans, the academic and cultural boycott of Israel reminds us of the successful cultural boycott of Apartheid South Africa. The boycott against South Africa during the 1980s urged artists to cancel their gigs in South Africa or performance at events supported or funded by Apartheid South Africa. Similarly the international boycott against Israel, called for by Palestinians (and supported by progressive Jewish Israelis), it is hoped, will non-violently force Israel to end its human rights abuses, violations of international law and bring the regime to the negotiating table so that a just solution can be found for all. Click here for more info.