Statement of Apology by WOMAD
Today, WOMAD Management issued a statement of apology regarding its decision to dis-invite the Palestinian Jordanian music group, 47Soul from this year’s WOMAD.
This statement is not good enough! In it, WOMAD takes no responsibility for the inherent racism and anti-Palestinianism in dis-inviting 47Soul on the alleged grounds that their presence would create an unsafe environment at WOMAD.
The message says nothing about Ziggy Marley's vaunted inclusion in the program after AFOPA launched a campaign in January to protest this and urge WOMAD to cancel him due to his support for Israel even as Israel conducted its genocide in Gaza.
The statement says nothing about the hypocrisy in the allowance by WOMAD of political messaging about Russia during a Ukraine band's performance, while attendees have been told by WOMAD security to “stop politicising” the event by holding up messages in support of Palestine and carrying Palestinian flags.
WOMAD's mistake has damaged its reputation. This statement does little to fix that!
Photos of backdrop slides during performance of Ukraine Band at WOMAD, and photo of the Ukrainian Kitchen at WOMAD