30 August 2022
The human rights NGO Africa4Palestine condemns, yet again, Nkosinathi Maphumulo known as DJ Black Coffee’s decision to perform for the third time in Apartheid Israel. According to online event websites, the artist is scheduled to perform on the 1st of September 2022 at the Electric Sunrise in Tel Aviv, Israel (click here for link).
This performance in the Apartheid State of Israel is in violation of the cultural boycott of Israel. It is an insult to the oppressed masses of Palestine and their progressive Jewish Israeli allies who have repeatedly called on DJ Black Coffee and other artists to boycott Apartheid Israel. It is undermining of the position of our our South African government, our ruling party the ANC and of other political parties as well as civil society organisations who have previously called him out for his endorsement of an Apartheid regime. It is in disregard of the popular will of his fans and of South Africans who have previously lambasted him for his Israeli Apartheid tendencies.
When we say history has no blank pages, this is a tale to DJ Black Coffee. In 2018 Africa4Palestine tried to engage with DJ Black Coffee urging him to cancel his then Israeli gig. This call by us was supported by the ANC, the EFF, other political parties, celebrities and, most importantly, by thousands of fans. He chose to ignore human rights and the calls – he performed for Apartheid Israel. https://mg.co.za/article/2018-04-23-why-south-africas-dj-black-coffee-left-a-bitter-taste-by-performing-in-israel/
South Africa’s ruling party the African National Congress (ANC) in their statement at the time of DJ Black Coffee’s 2018 performance in Israel called on him and artists to remember the role played by international anti-apartheid solidarity movements in the isolation of apartheid South Africa: “The people of Palestine are in a just cause for self-determination and we urge our artists not to form part of the normalisation of Israel’s suppression of the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination and statehood that mirrors our very own struggle”.
Minister Lindiwe Zulu, Chairperson of the ANC’s International Relations Sub Committee, said at the time of his 2018 gig: “We have been witnessing unacceptable violation of children’s rights‚ human rights and international law by the Israeli government. Further‚ we have been witnessing increased Israeli racism against Africans…The cultural aspect of the boycott is critical in advancing the cause to ensure that we isolate what is clearly an apartheid government of Israel. It is therefore with deep concern that the African National Congress has learnt of the recent visit to Israel of Mr Nkosinathi Maphumulo‚ popularly known as Black Coffee”.
EFF member Floyd Shivambu also added his voice to the raging debate: “South Africa’s isolation and the academic & cultural boycott are part of the reasons apartheid capitulated to the call for freedom. It is morally & politically insensitive for DJ Black Coffee to just go on partying in apartheid Israel, whilst it kills & oppresses innocent people.”
DJ Black Coffee, a multi-millionaire and Grammy winning artist, claimed poverty in 2018 and tried to suggest that he had to accept the Apartheid Israel gig “to feed his family”. South Africans and peace loving peoples of the world saw through his sham and rightfully called him to account – he trended on Twitter and other social media platforms in South Africa for over 48 hours.
It is now clear – more than ever before that DJ Black Coffee’s performances are tacit support for Israel’s Apartheid and ethnic cleansing project. We hope that it is not true that he is yet again performing in Apartheid Israel but if he is indeed, then through his actions, DJ Black Coffee is setting himself apart from the rest of the civilised cultural world who overwhelmingly condemn Israel’s brutal oppression of Palestinians. His Apartheid Israel performance will be in disregard for the humanity of Palestinians and constitutes a disregard for our own history and is a betrayal of the cause of freedom.
ISSUED BY TISETSO MAGAMA ON BEHALF OF AFRICA4PALESTINE
Africa4Palestine Director, Muhammed Desai: +27 (0) 81 353 0699
Africa4Palestine Campaigns, Nondumiso Mvubu: +27 (0) 71 814 6930
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