Four documents from 3 to 7 September 2010 about Sizzla`s concert

Transcription

Four documents from 3 to 7 September 2010
about Sizzla’s concert planned in Paris
on 24 September 2010 (gathered and translated
by Tjenbé Rèd, French Afro-Caribbean association
for the struggle against all forms of racism,
homophobia and AIDS)
[1A] 7 September 2010 - Opponents of Reggae singer Sizzla turn up the volume
(Le Parisien)
http://www.tjenbered.fr/2010/20100907-48.pdf [en]
http://www.tjenbered.fr/2010/20100907-49.pdf [fr]
[1B] 7 September 2010 - Sizzla: yet another concert cancelled because of homophobia
(Le Nouvel Observateur)
http://teleobs.nouvelobs.com/rubriques/musique-s/articles/sizzla-encore-un-concertannule-pour-homophobie [fr]
[2A] 3 September 2010 - Letter from Ian Brossat, chair of the Communist Party and Left
Party group in Paris city council, counselor for the 18th «arrondissement» [district], to
Garance Productions and Élysée-Montmartre about homophobic singer Sizzla’s concert at
Élysée-Montmartre on 24 September
[2B] 3 September 2010 - A singer of homophobic reggae at the Élysée-Montmartre? Press release from Ian Brossat, chair of the Communist Party and Left Party group in
Paris city council, counselor for the 18th «arrondissement» [district], about homophobic
singer Sizzla’s concert at Élysée-Montmartre on 24 September
Réf. 20100907-48.docx | Page 1 sur 8
[1A] 7 September 2010 - Opponents of Reggae singer
Sizzla turn up the volume (Le Parisien)
http://www.tjenbered.fr/2010/20100907
http://www.tjenbered.fr/2010/20100907-49.pdf
[fr]
http://www.tjenbered.fr/2010/20100907-89.pdf
[fr]
Le Parisien
Tuesday 7 September 2010
Paris
CONCERT
Opponents of Reggae singer Sizzla turn up the volume
In his own territory he is a significant figure. Sizzla Kalonji, a Jamaican of 34, is one of the
unchallengeablee masters of Dancehall, a harder variant of Reggae, much in vogue in
i the
housing estates. But his very controversial lyrics, openly homophobic, containing his
calls for the murder of «battymen
battymen» (an insulting term for gays in Jamaica),
Jamaica) have
prompted many cancellations
ellations of his concerts in France. And the next date, scheduled for
24 September in Paris at the Élysée-Montmartre is [could be] no exception. Ian Brossat,
[Paris City Council’s] communist member for the 18th «arrondissement
arrondissement» [Paris’ District],
has just sent a letter to Garance
ance Productions, the organisers
organiser of the tour, for which the
Director of the Élysée-Montmartre
Montmartre is also responsible, to ask him plainly and simply for
the concert’s cancellation. «We
We are well beyond freedom of artistic expression. You need to
listen to what he says, it is a plain and simple call
call for murder, an incitement to hatred. The
Élysée-Montmartre
Montmartre is not a municipal hall but my duty as an elected representative
represent
obliges
me to intervene.»
An unease also expressed by numerous associations, such as Tjenbé Rèd, an AfroAfro
Caribbean collective which fights against all forms of discriminations, notably
homophobia. Tjenbé Rèd has taken part in the protest movement which led this summer
to the cancellation of a Sizzla concert at Palavàs-les-Flots
Pala
(Hérault [South
South of France
Mainland]). «If
If the Sizzla concert goes ahead at the Élysée-Montmartre,
Montmartre, we shall organise
a gathering in front of the hall»,
hall warns David Auerbach Chiffrin, Chair of Tjenbé Rèd.
«With
With Sizzla and many other Dancehall singers, we are well beyond offensive opinions.
These are incitements to crimes which are currently
curr
ravaging Jamaica. There they have
lost count of the savage murders of homosexuals, lesbians, defenders of human rights. It is
a real tragedy, which the Stop Murder Music campaign is trying to curb.»
curb.»
Regularly put on the spot, Sizzla tried to make honourable amends, by promising not to
the more controversial songs, before starting up again worse than before. Contacted
yesterday, the Garance Productions company has not replied to
o our questions.
Previously, in 2005, its Garance Reggae Festival, the biggest in France, was cancelled
because of hostile comments on the presence of Sizzla.
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[Original French by] Sébastien RAMNOUX [for Le Parisien, one of the main daily
newspapers in France Mainland : about 500.000 readers by day, most of them in Paris
and around]
English translation of this French original text:
7 septembre 2010 - Les opposants au chanteur de reggae Sizzla haussent le ton (Le Parisien)
In the event of any differences between the English translation and the French original, the French text
shall prevail. Translated by T. E.
© Le Parisien, 2010
Réf. 20100907-48.docx | Page 3 sur 8
[1B] 7 September 2010 - Sizzla: yet another concert
cancelled because of homophobia
(Le Nouvel Observateur)
http://teleobs.nouvelobs.com/rubriques/musique-s/articles/sizzla-encore-un-concertannule-pour-homophobie [fr]
Le Nouvel Observateur
Sizzla: yet another concert cancelled because of homophobia
The Communist elected of Paris’ 18th district City Council, Ian Brossart, has called for
the cancellation of a concert by the Jamaican Reggae-Dancehall singer, which was due to
take place this coming 24 September at the Élysée-Montmartre, reveals Le Parisien. The
mayor has sent a letter to Garance Productions, the organisers of the tour, and so
responsible for it, and also to the Director of the performance arena Élysée-Montmartre
«Sodomite and queers, I say death to them»
If Sizzla is an iconic figure in dancehall music, he is also known for his homophobic
lyrics. «Sodomite and batty bwai mi seh a death fi dem [Sodomite and queers, I say death
to them]», sentiments which he reaffirmed in a declaration of 2002 - «Mi nuh go tek back
mi chat... mi kill sodomite and batty man dem bring aids and disease pon people... shot a
kill dem, mi nuh go tek back mi chat [I won’t take back my words… I kill sodomites and
queers, they bring AIDS and disease upon people… shoot and kill them, I won’t take back
my words]».
Associations very active to prevent this
«We are well beyond freedom of artistic expression. You need to listen to what he says, it is
a plain and simple call for murder, an incitement to hatred. The Élysée-Montmartre is not a
municipal hall but my duty as an elected representative obliges me to intervene», claims
Ian Brossart.
This demand by the elected representative is supported by several associations, among
them Tjenbé Rèd, an Afro-Caribbean collective which fights against all forms of
discrimination, such as homophobia.
In 2007, Sizzla signed the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA), a document drawn up as
part of the Stop Murder Music campaign, in doing which he committed himself never
again to use such language. But the associations maintain that this commitment has not
been respected.
Réf. 20100907-48.docx | Page 4 sur 8
The collective/association was at the heart of the cancellation of the singer’s concert
which was to have taken place at Palavàs-les-Flots in Hérault on 21 August last. The
Chair of the association, David Auerbach Chiffrin, has meanwhile announced that a
gathering in front of the hall will be organised if the concert goes on.
The concert at the Élysée-Montmartre is due to take place as normal on the coming 24
September.
[Original French by] K.T. [for Le Nouvel Observateur, one of the main weekly newspapers
in France : about 500.000 readers by week]
7 septembre 2010 - Sizzla : encore un concert annulé pour homophobie (Le Nouvel Observateur)
http://teleobs.nouvelobs.com/rubriques/musique-s/articles/sizzla-encore-un-concert-annule-pourhomophobie [fr]
Réf. 20100907-48.docx | Page 5 sur 8
[2A] 3 September 2010 - Letter from Ian Brossat,
chair of the Communist Party and Left Party group
in Paris city council, counselor for the 18th
«arrondissement» [district], to Garance Productions
and Élysée-Montmartre about homophobic singer
Sizzla’s concert at Élysée-Montmartre on 24 September
From Ian Brossat
Chair of the Communist Party and Left Party group in Paris city council,
Counselor for the 18th «arrondissement» [district]
To Mr Gérard Michel
Director, Garance Productions / Élysée-Montmartre
43, rue de Dunkerque
F-75011 Paris
Paris, 3 September 2010
Sir,
I have been informed that a concert by the Reggae singer Sizzla Kalonji is due to take place
at the Élysée-Montmartre on 24 September. The press has recently been full of vigorous
protests provoked by the scheduling of this concert.
The singer Capleton has already been able to give a concert in this same hall, on 13 July
last. He is in fact the author of 29 particularly violent songs, whose lyrics incite the murder
of homosexuals. And on the coming 26 September, it will be the singer Vybz Kartel, himself
also violently homophobic, who is scheduled for the Élysée-Montmartre.
Sizzla Kalonji is the author of songs which contain explicit calls for the murder of gays.
The Stop Murder Music campaign, launched in 2004 with a view to putting an end to these
grave developments, has been permitted to alert public opinion to these lyrics and
behaviour. These have nothing in the least to do with freedom of expression. A call for
murder, even if it is sung, remains a call for murder.
Furthermore, Sir, I confess not to understand how an important cultural arena such as the
Élysée-Montmartre could participate in the trivialisation of violence against homosexuals,
by putting on singers who explicitly call for their murder.
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That is why it seems reasonable to me that you revisit your decision to schedule Sizzla
Kalonji’s concert for the coming 24 September. I remain at your disposal so that we may
meet and exchange views on this subject.
With kindest regards,
Ian Brossart
3 septembre 2010 - Lettre de Ian Brossat, président du groupe des éluEs communistEs et des éluEs du Parti
de gauche au Conseil de Paris, élu du XVIIIème arrondissement, au groupe Garance - Élysée-Montmartre au
sujet du concert du chanteur homophobe Sizzla à l’Élysée-Montmartre le 24 septembre
_
[2B] 3 September 2010 - A singer of homophobic
reggae at the Élysée-Montmartre? - Press release
from Ian Brossat, chair of the Communist Party
and Left Party group in Paris city council,
counselor for the 18th «arrondissement» [district],
about homophobic singer Sizzla’s concert
at Élysée-Montmartre on 24 September
Press release from Ian Brossat
Chair of the Communist Party and Left Party group in Paris city council,
Counselor for the 18th «arrondissement» [district]
Friday 3 September 2010
A singer of homophobic reggae at the Élysée-Montmartre?
The Reggae singer Sizzla is scheduled for the coming 24 September at the ÉlyséeMontmartre. Ian Brossat asks the management of the hall to drop the concert.
Indeed, it would seem unlikely that this important concert arena could echo to the calls for
murder against gays sent out by his songs.
Réf. 20100907-48.docx | Page 7 sur 8
Unfortunately, it is not the first time that the Élysée-Montmartre made the choice of
programming explicitly homophobic singers. On 13 July last, the singer Capleton, also an
author of songs which call for the murder of homosexuals, appeared in the same arena.
And this coming 26 September, another violently homophobic singer, Vybz Kartel, is
scheduled for this arena.
In no case ought the principle of freedom of expression serve as an alibi for such an
outburst of hate. A call for murder, even if it is sung, is still a call for murder.
On 21 August last, Sizzla was due to appear at Palavàs-les-Flots. LGBT associations, in
particular Tjenbé Red, got together and their action managed to secure the cancellation of
this concert.
What was right down there out also to go equally for Paris. Everything must be done to
prevent such a concert taking place in the capital.
That is the reason why I have asked the Director of the Élysée-Montmartre to drop the
Sizzla concert.
Extracts from the lyrics of Sizzla:
«Nah Apologize»: «Rastaman don’t apologize to no battybwoy... Shoot dem inna dem head,
dem too fuckin nasty…»
«Head Out»: «The battybwoy brain’s gonna go spread out»
Those lyrics were a reaction to Stop Murder Music campaign launched in 2004.
Ian Brossat
3 septembre 2010 - Un chanteur de reggae homophobe à l’Élysée-Montmartre ? - Communiqué de presse de
Ian Brossat, président du groupe des éluEs communistes et des éluEs du Parti de gauche au Conseil de
Paris, élu du XVIIIème arrondissement de Paris
Réf. 20100907-48.docx | Page 8 sur 8

Four documents from 3 to 7 September 2010 about Sizzla`s concert

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