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CONTENT:
Zimbabwe: Censor meets musicians
Cuba: Gorki is out of prison
Censorship of female musicians: An overview
Freemuse.org: New web editor
Middle East: Meeting on freedom of musical expression
West Africa: Freemuse seminar in Senegal
Ghana: Hiplife under attack
Ghana: New copyright law an encroachment on human rights
‘Shoot the Singer’: Soon in four languages
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Zimbabwe: Censor meets musicians
For the first time a representative from the Zimbabwean Censorship Board met last week in an open discussion forum with representatives from the Zimbabwean music industry and media. Supported by Freemuse the seminar held at Harare’s Mannenburg Jazz Club in the last week of April dealt with the fear from musicians of the repressive political system in Zimbabwe, and the total radio and television control by the state.
[ A report and several documents from the seminar will
be published at www.freemuse.org later this month. ]
Cuba: Gorki is out of prison
After almost two years in prison, Cuban rock rebel Gorki Luis Águila Carrasco was released on 16 March 2005. Freemuse launched an international campaign for his release in October 2003. Information has been received that he has been granted conditional release, but details are still unknown.
[ Read more: http://www.freemuse.org/sw3956.asp ]
Censorship of female musicians: An overview
In April, Freemuse published a substantial summary on the restrictions women have had as singers, as composers and as instrumentalists from the Middle Ages until today. The 28-page article, by Freemuse intern Eva Fenn, is illustrated with individual examples from all over the world.
[ Read more: http://www.freemuse.org/sw8939.asp ]
Freemuse.org: New web editor
The website www.freemuse.org is an extensive and updated database about censorship on music world-wide. Journalist Mik Aidt, 42, has recently been assigned as the new editor of the site. For the past two decades he has been deeply involved in the field of world music, namely as a music editor at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation radio station DR P3, and as editor-in-chief of the Danish 'Djembe Magazine'.
[ Read more: http://www.freemuse.org/sw234.asp ]
Middle East: Meeting on freedom of musical expression
On April 1, Freemuse hosted a roundtable meeting in Amman, bringing together a small group of artists and organisers from the cultural scene of the nearby region. The meeting provided the base for a discussion forum, and the participants brought up a range of ideas and viewpoints. The meeting also helped identifying contacts as well as key issues to proceed with.
[ Read more: http://www.freemuse.org/sw9020.asp ]
West Africa: Freemuse seminar in Senegal
On April 9-10, Freemuse hosted a seminar at the Gorée Institute in Senegal on music and censorship in West Africa. The seminar focused on possible relationships between democracy and vibrant music cultures and how religious, political and other power structures play a significant role in repression of musical cultures.
[ Read more: http://www.freemuse.org/sw8980.asp ]
Ghana: Hiplife under attack
Hiplife, the local Ghanaian version of Hip Hop, is under constant attack from "moral groups" in the country. Commentators are running a campaign to censor so-called "profane music", and the National Communication Authority of Ghana is being asked to ban music styles such as Hiplife on the radios.
[ Read more: http://www.freemuse.org/sw8810.asp ]
Ghana: New copyright law an encroachment on human rights
In Ghana a proposed copyright bill intends to forbid musicians use of folkloric melodies and rhythms in their music unless they get authorisation to do so and pay for the use. Assisted by Freemuse, a coalition of musicians has made the president of Ghana aware that the bill is an imposition and encroachment on fundamental human rights, and as a result, he has now intervened in the process.
[ Read more: http://www.freemuse.org/sw8806.asp ]
‘Shoot the Singer’: Soon in four languages
The book 'Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today', edited by Freemuse executive director Marie Korpe, and published by Zed Books (2004, London), will be published in Finnish later this year. Further, editions in Russian and Spanish are expected in 2006.
[ Read more: http://www.freemuse.org/sw4334.asp ]
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For more info and latest news, please visit www.freemuse.org
Kind regards,
Freemuse - The World Forum on Music and Censorship
Nytorv 17, 3rd floor
1450 Copenhagen K Denmark
tel +45 33 32 10 27
www.freemuse.org
Freemuse (FREEdom of MUSical Expression) is an international human rights organization advocating freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide.
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