United Kingdom: Jah Cure banned from entering Great Britain
According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, the Jamaican artist Siccatune Alcock – more known as reggae performer Jah Cure – is banned from entering the United Kingdom.
Jah Cure’s visit was due to a series of concerts taking place during October 2007. His visit attracted attention when some women’s rights groups and campaigners claimed that his concerts would be an insult to rape victims.
Rape and robbery Jah Cure was recently released from prison after serving eight years for rape and robbery. The Daily Mail reports that British Home Office officials banned Jah Cure from entering the country because his presence would not “be conductive to the public good”.
Jah Cure had just started his musical career when he was convicted for rape and robbery in 1999. During his time in prison he released three best-selling albums. According to an article in the British newspaper the Guardian, he has always claimed his innocence.
Inspirational figure The tour organisers were surprised by the decision of the Home Office. A promoter told the Daily Mail that Jah Cure is an inspirational figure for young people: “Irrespective of whether he is innocent or not he has served his sentence (…). He is a part of the peace in the streets campaign.” Another promoter said to the Guardian that Jah Cure has become a conscious person: “And all his lyrics are about peace and love.”
While some women’s rights groups are of the opinion that Jah Cure neither deserves nor the stardom nor the money from his best-selling records – other women’s rights groups hesitate to join the protests.
Video interview with the West African reggae singer Tiken Jah Fakoly, recorded in Dublin on Saturday 23 August 2008 in connection with the Freemuse Award 2008 ceremony
After receiving a fine for civil disobedience, punk-rock singer and musician Gorki Águila could walk out of the court room as a free man on 29 August 2008
According to members of his band, punk-rock musician Gorki Aguila has been arrested and faces up to four years' imprisonment for 'social dangerousness'
"We have to continue questioning corruption and poverty in Africa," said Tiken Jah Fakoly as he received the Freemuse Award at the Festival of World Cultures in Ireland
'I Kissed a Girl' provokes controversy and has been banned from radio stations in Dubai for containing lyrics that 'depict sexuality, lesbianism and promiscuity', reported Gulf News
The first Freemuse Award is given to Tiken Jah Fakoly from Côte d’Ivoire - an outspoken reggae singer who has tirelessly denounced political corruption.
The Canadian country rock band Dry County feel they've been "unofficially banned" from the music industry. Freemuse asked the band's manager to elaborate
When a woman tries to break into the growing scene for Islamic hip-hop in United Kingdom she is often intimidated, or even threatened, reported the New Statesman
World-renowned Swedish glass designer Göran Wärff has created the Freemuse Award which is presented for the first time ever in Dublin on 23 August 2008
International Pen Writers in Prison Committee sent this appeal on 7 august 2008 protesting the arrest and four-month detention of singer-songwriter Lapiro de Mbanga
The defence lawyer of imprisoned musician Teddy Afro and an editor-in-chief of a local newspaper which interviewed the lawyer were arrested in Addis Ababa on 4 August 2008