The four artists have all had experiences with music censorship:

Kris Kristofferson is one of America’s leading and most controversial songwriters. He has provoked the political establishment on numerous occasions and experienced both media and commercial censorship, particularly for his highly critical album on US policy in Central America and his many scathing comments on the role of the US in the Iraq war.

Ferhat Tunç is a singer, musician and writer from Turkey. He has been imprisoned several times for comments he has made at his concerts and articles that he has written. His songs are banned by National Radio and TV in Turkey as he is considered a strong spokesperson for the Kurdish issue. Ferhat Tunç has been through several long trials and was recently acquitted from a serious charge of "terrorist support", but will soon need to go back in courts to defend his freedom of expression.

Chiwoniso Maraire is a singer and mbira player from Zimbabwe. She comes from a family that supported Mugabe both in the war of independence and subsequently in Zimbabwe’s development as an independent nation. Recently she has been using her music to express a clear opposition to the violence and abuse of power in the country.

Being a Sami, Mari Boine has met resistance from the Norwegian establishment and from her own ranks for her intrepid development of modern music based on the musical and cultural identity of the Sami people. She delivers ever bolder, powerful and gripping lyrics and has become a symbol of Sami pride and identity in a modern world.

The artists will tell their stories at the seminar during the day and perform together at a concert in the evening.


An international radio event
The concert in Norway's capital will be broadcasted by NRK – the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation – on P2, and has become an trans-European radio event. The recording of the concert is offered via satelite to all European public service radios which collaborate within the European Broadcasting Union.

So far the listeners in 13 European countries - Austria, Belgium (in both French and Flemish speaking radio channels), Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, and Sweden - will be able to listen to the concert in their radio:

• Austria: ORF (Oesterreichischer Rundfunk)
• Belgium: VRT (Vlaamse Radio en Televisieomroep) and RTBF (Radio-Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française)
• Bulgaria: BNR (Balgarsko Nationalno Radio)
• Czech Republic: CR (Cesky Rozhlas)
• Germany: DKU (Deutschlandradio Kultur, Berlin)
• Holland: NPO (Nederlandse Publieke Omroep)
• Iceland: RUV (Rikisutvarpid)
• Poland: PR (Polskie Radio)
• Portugal: RDP (Radiodifusao Portuguesa)
• Serbia: RTS (Radiotelevizija Srbije)
• Slovenia: RTVS (Radiotelevizija Slovenija)
• Sweden: SR (Sveriges Radio)

Seminar
On the same day, Monday 3 March 2008, from 10 am to 3:30 pm, the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo organises a seminar on music censorship and the freedom of expression in which the invited performers will address freedom of speech and music censorship, as well as other invited censored musicians, music journalists, cultural event makers, and politicians. The seminar will be a mix of lectures, artist testimonials, and debate, held in connection with the centre's exhibition about freedom of expression which runs until 25 May 2008.

The seminar 'Music is a human right!' will be held in English language, featuring conversations with Kris Kristofferson (USA), Chiwoniso Maraire (Zimbabwe), Ferhat Tunç (Turkey) and Mari Boine (Norway). Introduction by Ole Reitov from Freemuse. Musical interludes and debate.


About Music Freedom Day
Music Freedom Day was initiated by Freemuse in 2006 and was featured on many radio stations on 3 March 2007. The Nobel Peace Center finds it highly relevant to celebrate Music Freedom Day 2008 with its exhibition “How Free is Free?” including a separate module on censored music which was produced by Freemuse.