The 1970s protest music many of us listened to was reggae: it began as the music of Rastafarians in Jamaica.
But with Bob Marley on the scene, with his 鈥淕et Up, Stand Up鈥, exhorting us to 鈥淪tand up for your rights鈥 and 鈥淒on鈥檛 give up the fight鈥, reggae became an anthem for young people involved in struggle worldwide.
In 1981, when I arrived at dusk at Morocco鈥檚 fabled town of Marrakesh, the youth were in mourning. One sadly announced, 鈥Bob Marley est mort鈥. He died at 36 from malignant melanoma.
Marley was adored by millions, but especially the youth of poor countries such as Morocco.
Millions of unemployed young people throughout North Africa felt hope and inspiration from Marley鈥檚 calls for a united Africa, where the oppressed would rise up against the European colonialism.
He called out apartheid in South Africa, supporting Nelson Mandela who had been arrested and jailed for his resistance.
These were the political and cultural leaders of my youth.
They were not pacifists; they were fighters for a better world and against injustice and discrimination.
Like others, I was horrified to find out that Ziggy, Marley鈥檚 son, is playing at the world music festival听2024 WOMADelaide 鈥 and being promoted as someone spreading messages of freedom, peace and love, is a Zionist.
Ziggy Marley helped raise US$60 million for the in 2018 and, last October, after four tours of Israel, signed on to a letter supporting Israel and condemning Hamas, along with 700 other Hollywood celebrities.
He has not condemned Israel鈥檚 war against the people of Gaza where more than 100,000 are either dead, injured or missing presumed dead.
How is it possible that in one generation the children of cultural icons, such as Bob Marley, can so badly sell out their parent鈥檚 rebellious, even revolutionary, history?
The answer is that music is now big business, co-opted by capitalism to make huge profits for record companies, festivals and, of course, the individuals themselves.
As we have seen in Israel鈥檚 war on Gaza, the imperialists, especially the United States, have bribed, cajoled, threatened or even bombed any group daring to stand up against genocide.
Meanwhile, they have reviled the millions鈥 strong, worldwide movement against Israeli genocide as 鈥渁ntisemitic鈥 and 鈥減ro Hamas鈥.
Why wouldn鈥檛 those who see themselves as doing well out of the system support the 鈥渨inning鈥 side?
is a headline act at , where equality and inclusivity are supposedly听celebrated.
Several organisations have called on the WOMADelaide Foundation, a registered charity to help migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, to cancel听Marley鈥檚 performance.
They have not had any success.
The has written to听Marley asking him to play a benefit for the children of Gaza.
They are on Marley鈥檚 performance to highlight 鈥渢he dissonance between Ziggy Marley鈥檚 sweet words and his actions鈥.
The establishment media has been silent on Marley鈥檚 support for Israel and the huge debate in Jamaica, where outraged supporters of his father say Ziggy鈥檚 sell-out would make his father 鈥溾.
Only in alternative media, like 91自拍论坛, will you find this reported because听it听does not just report the news, it takes a side.
I鈥檓 going to be one of those at WOMADelaide turning my back on Marley鈥檚 hypocrisy. If you aren鈥檛 going, why don鈥檛 you consider sending a donation to help us through 2024?
91自拍论坛 won鈥檛 give up the fight for Palestine;听we will continue to stand up for all oppressed peoples鈥 rights.