ContraBanned: #MusicUnites
March 17th, 2017 • SXSW @ Palm Door, 508 E. 6th Street • Austin, Texas
Artists from the seven banned nations live on stage: this is a call to action.
7:30-7:55 Dena Elsaffar
(Iraq/US) Arab music-inspired, elegant and spirited originals
8:00-8:25 Bassel and the Supernaturals
(Syria/US) Syrian heart, Chicago soul
8:40-9:20 Mamak Khadem
(Iran/US) Vocal wonder of world trance music
9:35-10:15 Mohsen Namjoo
(Iran/US) Persian setar meets modern crooner
10:30-10:55 Faarrow
(Somalia/Canada) Beat heavy fusion of African, hip hop and pop music
11:10-11:50 Emmanuel Jal
(Sudan/Canada) Child soldier turned inspiring MC and activist
12:05-12:50 Kayem
(Libya/US; formerly known as Khaled M) Libyan-American hip hop voice of conscience
1:05-1:50 Ash Koosha
(Iran/UK) Ninja Tunes electronic musician/composer, virtual reality pioneer, synaesthete
The ContraBanned: #MusicUnites showcase at SXSW will send a message to labels, agents, presenters, promoters, artists and audiences: if we are going to give voice to global artists, especially artists from often misunderstood and misrepresented Muslim-majority countries, and strengthen diversity in our culture, then we need to make it our mission to use what resources we have—influence, capital, music—to make that happen.
On Friday, January 27th, 2017, the White House issued an Executive Order banning entry to the U.S. for ninety days to the citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries—Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—and banning entry to Syrian refugees indefinitely. While the Executive Order has been temporarily suspended, it continues to have massive social and political impact.
For those whose work it is to promote cultural diversity in America, its impact has been disastrous. Arts presenters are reluctant to risk contracting performers from these seven countries, for fear shifiting immigration policy could scuttle a long-planned project, and all the costs and waste that that would entail.
Furthermore, this ban comes at a time when access to positive presentation of cultural diversity is more important than ever. Only access to other cultures can foster the empathy that is an engine that drives civil society.
Help us bring these artists to SXSW to show that the power of music is universal: #MusicUnites
There is no more effective venue for communicating this message to the American culture industry than SXSW, and there are no organizations better suited to broadcast this massage than the three collaborating on this project:
• Tamizdat, a 501(c)(3) cultural support organization, is the leading advocate regarding for- eign artists visa issues in the U.S.
• globalFest, also a 501(c)(3), is America’s leading showcase event and service organization presenting world music artists to the American music industry.
• PRI’s The World is a broadly syndicated radio program produced in collaboration with the BBC’s World Service, that provides international journalism and cultural news that illuminates the world to U.S. listeners.
Risks and challenges
This event will be produced by three groups with expertise needed to make it work. All have produced successful similar events at SXSW before. The only thing we don't have is the money to get the artists to Austin, and to give them a roof over their heads while they are here.
Tamizdat is cultural support organization with 20 years experience in artist visa issues and advocacy. globalFest is America’s leading showcase event and service organization presenting world music artists to the American music industry. PRI’s The World is a broadly syndicated radio program produced in collaboration with the BBC’s World Service, that provides international journalism and cultural news that illuminates the world to U.S. listeners.
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