Freemuse has received a donation from the Björn Afzelius International Culture Fund which will be passed on as an award to musicians, individuals or organisations that “have worked for freedom of musical expression in a remarkable way”.

The Björn Afzelius International Culture Fund was initiated in memory of Swedish rock singer Björn Afzelius who died 1999.

Quoted in 1989 for saying “Rock’n roll is not a question of life and death – it is much more important than that,” Björn Afzelius was a strong spokesman for suppressed people and supported financially several projects and individuals in Latin America, Africa and Europe.


Supported by unions
The Björn Afzelius International Culture Fund is supported by most major labour unions in Denmark in respect and memory of the Swedish singer-songwriter who dedicated much of his life to international solidarity projects.

Amongst the highlights of his career was the ANC Gala in Sweden in 1985 when Afzelius and other major artists of Sweden joined prime minister Olaf Palme in a cultural manifestation in support of the ANC – a support that Afzelius later was credited for personally by Nelson Mandela.

The Freemuse Award will be given to an individual or an organisation that “has worked for freedom of musical expression in a remarkable way”

The award winner(s) could be:

• musicians, composers, researchers, journalists, producers or organisations that have faced music censorship or
 
• added significantly to the understanding of issues of music censorship and marginalisation or

• through their work promoted issues of freedom of musical expression.

African singer receives Freemuse Award in Dublin
Tiken Jah Fakoly will receive the first ever Freemuse Award in connection with his Ireland debut concert in Dublin on Saturday 23 August 2008.

Working tirelessly to denounce political corruption in Africa, Tiken Jah has already given away half the award money to imprisoned African journalist Moussa Kaka. Tiken Jah will play at Dublin's Festival of World Cultures. A press meeting will be organised on the day prior to his concert and the award ceremony.