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ARTICLES PUBLISHED BY FREEMUSE

Latests articles:
China: Country profile (25 April 2008)
Tanzania - Zanzibar: 'Give sex or be blacklisted' (24 April 2008)
Somalia: Dilemmas facing Somali music and musicians (23 April 2008)


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China: Country profile
In China, the censorship authorities act with the aim of protecting its citizens against "mental contamination" and its government against criticism.
By
25 April 2008
Zimbabwe: Protest singer Viomak challenges Mugabe's regime
Exiled Zimbabwean singer Viomak challenges the Mugabe regime, and she is well aware that by doing so she puts her life at risk
By
30 October 2007
Somalia: Dilemmas facing Somali music and musicians
Somali musicians struggle with financial hardships and self-censorship issues, and some are dying of hunger and diseases in Somalia
By Abdulkadir M. Wa’ays
23 April 2008
Musicians and Censorship in Zimbabwe
Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005
By Albert Nyathi
12 May 2005
Algeria: Matoub Lounès - Berber Guerilla of Pop
The story of the legendary Algerian singer who was assassinated in 1998. Chapter from 'Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today' (May 2004)
By Andy Morgan
01 October 2004
Iran: ’Unveiled: Art and Censorship in Iran’
Excerpt from Chapter 8 in the report ’Unveiled: Art and Censorship in Iran’ published by Article 19 in September 2006. Chapter 8 is about music in Iran:
By Article 19
05 October 2006
Myanmar/Burma: Music under siege
Music provides a rallying point for the masses during political upheavals in Burma. An excerpt from the book 'Shoot the Singer': Chapter 6
By Aung Zaw
28 October 2005
USA: Government Arbiter or Catalyst for the Arts?
Historical perspective on government funding for the arts. Article.
By Cynthia Tse Kimberlin
05 November 2002
Turkey: New sound of Kurdish music after ban was lifted
Aynur Dogan, once banned because of her Kurdish ethnicity, is perhaps the most recognizable of many Kurdish singers creating a new sound in Turkey
By Daniel Bax
03 April 2006
Iran: Daniel Pearl: Status of music in Iran 2000
Link to an article in which Daniel Pearl describes the status of music in Iran in 2000. He interviews the Iranian pop singer Alireza Assar and composer Fouad Hejazi
By Daniel Pearl
04 September 2007
Zimbabwe: Censorship of Locally Recorded Music
Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005
By Emmanuel Vori
12 May 2005
USA: 'Crash into me, baby!'
America’s implicit music censorship since September 11. Read the chapter from 'Shoot the Singer!', by Eric Nuzum on how the September 11 terror attacks have affected freedom of musical expression
By Eric Nuzum
03 June 2004
Women and Music Censorship - Past to Present
Examples from all over the world of the censorship of female music during the centuries
By Eva Fenn, Freemuse
25 April 2005
Afghanistan: Female musicians put their lives in danger
A report from a music school in Kabul is a story about the kind of difficulties and dangers female musicians face in present day Afghanistan. They must work in secret
By Fariba Nawa, San Francisco Cronicle
15 January 2008
Turkey: A personal letter from musician Ferhat Tunç
A personal letter from Kurdish-Turkish musician Ferhat Tunç who was appointed a 'Freemuse ambassador' in September 2007, about his relationship with the organisation
By Ferhat Tunç
25 September 2007
Turkey: Ferhat Tunç continues his struggle
Despite death threats and continuous court cases, Turkish singer and writer Ferhat Tunç continues to critisise the Turkish court system and the government
By Ferhat Tunç
25 June 2007
Turkey: Testimony - the trials and arrests of Ferhat Tunç
"1986: Arrested for political reasons. One week of interrogations, degradations and torture in the notorious prison camp DAL." Read the personal testimony of Turkish singer and human rights activist Ferhat Tunç
By Ferhat Tunç
19 October 2004
World-wide: Calls for censorship of 'indecent' songs
Where to draw the line and when to actually ban a song because it is considered indecent, profane, immoral or offending against the recognised standards of propriety?
By Freemuse
31 March 2008
Music & Islam - what's the big fuss?
In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Taliban continues to attack musicians and music shops, but what is the position on music in Islam?
By Freemuse
27 November 2007
The burning music question in Islam: prohibited or not?
The burning music question: Music... is it or is it not allowed in Islam? Can we get it straight?
By Freemuse
09 August 2006
USA/UK: Deeyah speaks out about the unspeakable
Freemuse hands the microphone to Deeyah - a pop singer and an activist with a serious message. She has placed herself in the crossfire of today’s most controversial, religious issues
By Freemuse
09 August 2006
Algeria: Souad Massi - exiled voice of Algeria
Algerian singer and guitarist Souad Massi is a celebrity with a growing global following. Her music was banned in Algeria which she fled in 2000
By Freemuse
17 January 2006
Turkey: "Keep Roj TV!" Turkish musicians protest
Turkish musicians signed a petition against attempts to ban the Denmark-based Kurdish Roj TV. The Danish government has been under diplomatic pressure to effect its closure.
By Freemuse
17 January 2006
Syria: 'Silenced voices'
In Syria, music is a mirror which shows the soul of the listener. A few young musicians perceive a magic language of sound which can touch the heart and make new thoughts spark. And this is exacly where their problems start...
By Gabriela M. Keller
07 November 2006
China: Culture, Legislation and Censorship
Excerpts from the article "Chinese Cultural Laws Regulations and Institutions" by Gao Shuxun (ed.)
By Gao Shuxun
01 August 2003
Zimbabwe: Banned singer released her third protest music album
Exiled Zimbabwean singer Viomak released her third protest music album, 'Happy 84th birthday President R.G Matibili (Great Son of Malawi)' on 21 February 2008
By Harriet
29 February 2008
White Noise Music - an international affair
Hate Music. The story of modern racist music, covering cases from UK, Sweden and USA. Paper from the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, 1998
By Heléne Lööw
01 January 2001
Finland / Sweden / Norway: The destruction of a minority's music culture
Ethnomusicologist Ilpo Saastamoinen shares his insight and personal experiences with the oppression of Sámi music culture
By Ilpo Saastamoinen
21 April 2008
Belarus: Interview with Belarusian singer Ljavon Volski from NRM
Interview with Belarusian singer Ljavon Volski. He is the lead singer in the rock and punk band N.R.M., based in Minsk
By Ingo Petz
28 March 2006
Spain: Censorship of Basque musicians
Over the past two years censorship of Basque musicians in Spain has steadily increased
By International Basque Organisation For Human Rights
28 January 2004
China: Canto-pop Censorship in China & Singapore
An edited version of a part of a thesis entitled 'Three Decades of Canto-pop: Hybridization, consolidation and Innovation', written for University of Liverpool in 2005
By Ivy Man
04 September 2007
North Korea: Jason Carter - 'The Colour Of Silence'
Excerpts from British guitarist Jason Carter's diary, 'The Colour Of Silence In The Axis Of Evil' - about his first performance in North Korea
By Jason Carter
24 April 2007
Chile: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
By Jens Lohmann
25 February 2002
Argentina: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
By Jens Lohmann
25 February 2002
Cuba: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
By Jens Lohmann
25 February 2002
Mexico: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
By Jens Lohmann
25 February 2002
Dominican Republic: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
By Jens Lohmann
25 February 2002
Guatemala: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
By Jens Lohmann
25 February 2002
Limits of Musical Freedom
Which kinds of limits are there to the freedom of musical expression in the world today?
By Johan Fornäs
07 February 2002
Ghana: Country profile
A brief overview of the history of music censorship in the West African country Ghana during the last hundred years
By John Collins
06 March 2006
Sierra Leone: Interview with Daddy Saj
Freemuse interviewed Daddy Saj in August 2007 to learn more about his imprisonment and about music censorship in the country
By John Sahr Sahid, Freemuse
29 August 2007
Jonas Otterbeck: Islamic reactions to the music of today
A working paper, 22 pages in PDF-format, to be published as a chapter in the book 'Religion, Media, and Modern Thought in the Arab World', Cambridge Scholars Press Ltd.
By Jonas Otterbeck
13 November 2007
Korea: 'The people united'
Music for North Korea’s ‘Great Leader’ and ‘Dear Leader’. Article.
By Keith Howard
24 February 2003
Zimbabwe: Profile of Thomas Mapfumo – 'the Lion of Zimbabwe'
Throughout years of struggle, Mapfumo has been an important revolutionary figure in Zimbabwe – fighting with the power of music.
By Kristina Funkeson
27 November 2007
Jamaica: Dancehall star signs the Reggae Compassionate Act
Reggae and dancehall star Buju Banton is the fourth artist to sign the 'Reggae Compassionate Act' which is part of the gay rights campaign ‘Stop Murder Music’
By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse
09 August 2007
Iran: About 230 people arrested during a ‘satanistic’ music event
As part of an annual summer crackdown on “immoral behavior” about 230 people were arrested during a police raid on an underground rap and rock concert
By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse
07 August 2007
Sweden: Explicit lyrics cause heated debate about women’s sexuality
After being banned on two regional radio stations, the lyrics of a song by Frida Muranius are debated in newspapers, radio, web forums and court yards all over Sweden
By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse
11 July 2007
Argentina and Uruguay: Miguel Angel Estrella
Article on the Argentinean classical pianist Miguel Angel Estrella who was arrested, imprisoned and tortured in Uruguay in December 1977.
By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse
19 June 2007
The music industry from the perspective of women
About the music industry from the perspective of women, based on interviews with Myriam, a Senegalese rapper from the group ALIF and the singer Ajah Sy
By Kristina Funkeson, Freemuse
27 May 2005
Zimbabwe: Blacklisted – My Personal Experience
Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005
By Leonard Zhakata
12 May 2005
Tanzania - Zanzibar: 'Give sex or be blacklisted'
Why do we see and hear little of women musicians in Zanzibar? Report from an island where parents and husbands are at the core of strong 'cultural censorship'
By Lingson Adam, Freemuse
24 April 2008
Tanzania: Political pressure and corruption silence musicians
Interview with Tanzanian musician Muumin Mwinjuma who says political pressure and corruption lead to music censorship
By Lingson Adam, Freemuse
08 April 2008
Tanzania: Self-censorship and fear in the "Island paradise"
Threats and intimidations to critical thought expressed through music have reduced musical creations and performances in Zanzibar to mere entertainment function
By Lingson Adam, Freemuse
22 January 2008
Tanzania: Pressured to stop performing for opposition party
Interview with Tanzanian composer and performer Mzee Seif Thabit who says he has been censored for his alignment with opposition political parties
By Lingson Adam, Freemuse
22 October 2007
Musical responses to 9/11: List of allegedly 'banned' songs
A list of "lyrically inappropriate" songs banned from some US radio stations in the wake of the World Trade Center attacks in 2001
By Mark Armstrong
09 December 2004
Musical responses to 9/11: From Conservative patriotism to radicalism
This article poses the question: What would a suitable American popular music response to the events of 9/11 sound like? Read the chapter by Martin Cloonan, from the book "9/11 – The world's all out of tune"
By Martin Cloonan
09 December 2004
UK: Britain at War
Extensive article on how music was "restricted" during the Falkland and Gulf war, with focus on UK legislation and corporate censorship. Presented by Martin Cloonan at the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, 1998
By Martin Cloonan
01 January 2001
Pakistan: Fear and persecution follows Afghan musicians
The fear and persecution which forced Afghan singers to leave their country now has followed them to their exile in Peshawar in Pakistan
By Marvaiz Khan, Freemuse
04 April 2007
Iran: Gissoo Shakeri - “Voice of women who cannot sing"
Singer Gissoo Shakeri's works are banned in Iran, but her songs can be listened to on the internet. Interview excerpt from Revolution, and lyrics from one of her banned songs
By Mary Lou Greenberg
06 April 2006
Hip-hop, black Islamic nationalism and the quest of Afro-American empowerment
Paper from the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, Copenhagen 20-22 November, 1998
By Mattias Gardell
01 January 2001
Zimbabwe before the elections: Airplay is only for the "patriots"
While the radio keeps rotating songs that praise the current regime, opposition and dissenting voices are silenced, and things fall apart, writes Maxwell Sibanda from Harare
By Maxwell Sibanda
10 March 2008
Zimbabwe: Music industry is dying slowly
Zimbabwe’s current political and economic crisis has destroyed the once vibrant music industry
By Maxwell Sibanda
28 October 2005
Zimbabwe: Music central tool in election
As campaigning for the 2005 parliamentary elections intensified, music became central to the contest
By Maxwell Sibanda
29 March 2005
Zimbabwe: Complete control - Music and propaganda in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean government records 'praise music' to replace critical songs. Extensive article on Zanu PF and their use of music as propaganda, past and present
By Maxwell Sibanda
20 September 2004
Belarus election: Blacklisted bands play in Poland
The hope amongst the organisers and artists is that music can fuel revolution and bring about democracy in Belarus
By Maya Medich
17 March 2006
Chechnya: Recording songs of defiance and survival
The compilation album 'Songs of Defiance' was recorded and compiled by Michael Church. In this article he tells how he was arrested while recording a choir in North Ossetia
By Michael Church
21 May 2007
Indonesia: Ed Edy and Residivus face jail for singing 'dog' about police
One song and the use of one word, 'anjing', has left the musicians of Ed Edy and Residivus facing 18 months in prison on the Indonesian island of Bali
By Michael McAuliffe, CBC
26 February 2007
Crackdown on music in public space
Many cities world-wide are debating whether music in public space is to be considered a form of noise pollution. Some ban, others encourage street performances and music lessons
By Mik Aidt
16 February 2006
USA: Multi-media show about dangers of censorship
‘Freedom Sings’ is a critically acclaimed multi-media presentation which tells the story of almost three centuries of banned or censored music in America
By Mik Aidt
04 November 2005
Governments against dance music
Laws are in place all over Europe, in the USA and in Asia, "aimed at stifling dance music culture", according to music organisers
By Mik Aidt
14 October 2005
Afghanistan: Bittersweet success of secret girl band
The Afghan girl group, ‘Burka Band,’ continues to receive media attention and draw new fans, even though they are no longer active.
By Mik Aidt
13 October 2005
Afghanistan: Musicians unite against censorship
130 Afghans have established a new musician’s organisation, the Afghanistan Music Foundation, to fight against music censorship and oppression of musicians
By Mik Aidt
25 May 2005
Algeria: Cheb Hasni - popular rai hero assassinated
Article on rai singer Cheb Hasni who was assassinated for his music by religious militants on 29 September 1994.
By Mik Aidt
01 January 2001
Kenya: Improved space for political lyrics
Popular Kenyan singer and songwriter Eric Wainaina compliments the government for not trying to strain his freedom of expression
By Morten Bonde Pedersen
29 March 2007
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings’ Policies on Censorship of Music
Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005
By Musavengana Nyasha
12 May 2005
Iran: Mahsa Vahdat - Singing in the absence of others
Mahsa Vahdat speaks with Naghmeh Taqizadeh from TehranAvenue about the challenges of being a female musician and singer in Iran
By Naghmeh Taqizadeh
18 December 2002
Israel: The Current Wave of the Wagner Debate
The “pro and contra Wagner” debate in Israel is multifaceted and charged with much emotion. Article
By Noam Ben-Zeev
20 May 2001
Tracing the Footsteps – Censorship and Music in Zimbabwe
Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005
By Nyasha Nyakunu
12 May 2005
Turkey: 'Censorship - the Turkish way'
These original documents reveal the methods of official Turkish censorship
By Ole Reitov
06 December 2005
Six articles on music censorship in Zimbabwe
Prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe held Thursday 28th April 2005 at Mannenberg Jazz Club, Harare
By Ole Reitov
12 May 2005
Afghanistan: Interview with Jamshid Matin X
This is an interview with Jamshid Matin X – a presenter and producer for a daily music show and a Top 10 music show – who fled to America because of death threats
By Ole Reitov, Freemuse
01 June 2006
Indonesia: Inul Daratista has overcome censorship
Inul Daratista's music career has overcome bans and censorship. Today she remains one of the most popular dangdut stars Indonesia has ever had.
By Olivia Madison
12 December 2005
Cambodia: Of Sounds and Survival – Khmer music
1975-1979 was a period of genocidal censorship throughout Cambodia – the music and musicians barely survived. Today, Khmer artistic cultures are in recovery
By Olivia Madison
28 October 2005
Malaysia: Black metal music under attack
Malaysian authorities see the music as part of “black metal cult”
By Olivia Madison
28 October 2005
USA: Rap artist Kanye West censored on tv
Rap artist, Kanye West, speaks his mind on live television and gets censored
By Olivia Madison
27 October 2005
Zimbabwe: A Case of Music Censorship Before and After Independence
Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005
By Omen Muza
12 May 2005
Taiwan: History of Holo pop songs censorship
Holo pop songs that were banned during Kuomintang rule took center stage in 2007 during a series of 'forbidden songs concerts' sponsored by the Government Information Office
By Pat Gao
22 November 2007
USA: What if they gave a culture war and nobody came?
Extensive article on the history of music censorship in the U.S., detailing the occasions when judicial and legislative authorities have focused attention on popular music as expression
By Paul Fischer
28 January 2003
Puerto Rico: Censorship on reggaeton genre
The Dominican Republic contemplates a nation-wide ban on Reggaeton. The genre has previously been banned on radio in Puerto Rico, and albums were boycotted
By ReggaetOnline.net & Freemuse
19 January 2006
Senegal: Rappers' quest for change
During the last seven years, there has been a frightening rise in the number of censorship attempts on musicians, outspoken activists and journalists in Senegal
By Rose Skelton
02 March 2007
Turkey: Censorship Past and Present
A historical approach to the nature of censorship. Article.
By Sanar Yurdatapan
01 October 2004
Nigeria: 'Leash on Their Tongues'
Article on how music has been censored in Nigeria. Including the story of Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti and their struggle against political and religious censorship
By Sola Olorunyomi
01 March 2001
North Korea: Exiled because of passion for jazz
Classical pianist Kim Cheol-woong had to flee North Korea to realise his dream of becoming a jazz musician
By Stuff.co.nz
06 April 2006
Silence is death - Censorship in the Arab world
'Freedom of Expression in Music' conference in Beirut in October 2005 posed many questions but did it reach any solutions?
By Trevor Mostyn
31 October 2005
Zimbabwe: How musicians avoid censorship
In Zimbabwe, musicians manage to evade censorship by creating songs with double-meaning. And sometimes they get away with it, reports Freemuse's correspondent
By Zenzele Ndebele
28 November 2007