Controversy at the Rototom festival over the presence of the Jewish singer Matisyahu

This year’s Rototom SunSplash festival has been at the centre of controversy over American singer Matisyahu, a Jewish reggae musician who is often wrongly identified as Israeli. The festival organisers decided to axe Matisyahu’s performance after asking the artist to publicly condemn the war and support the existence of a Palestinian state, which he did not do. The announcement of his appearance at the festival had led to protests by groups opposing Israeli government policy. Also, some of the bands taking part in the festival had announced their decision not to take part if Matisyahu performed there.

However, the festival organisers backtracked a few days later. They renewed their invitation to Matisyahu and apologised. In a press release they said, ‘Rototom rejects antisemitism and religious discrimination of any kind. We respect the Jewish community and publicly apologise for what has happened.’ In the end the singer has confirmed his appearance, billed for Saturday 22nd August.

Before receiving the apology from the festival organisers, Matisyahu posted a message on Facebook, explaining the facts as he saw them:

‘The festival organizers contacted me because they were getting pressure from the BDS movement. They wanted me to write a letter, or make a video, stating my positions on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to pacify the BDS people. I support peace and compassion for all people. My music speaks for itself, and I do not insert politics into my music. Music has the power to transcend the intellect, ideas, and politics, and it can unite people in the process. The festival kept insisting that I clarify my personal views; which felt like clear pressure to agree with the BDS political agenda. Honestly it was appalling and offensive, that as the one publicly Jewish-American artist scheduled for the festival they were trying to coerce me into political statements. Were any of the other artists scheduled to perform asked to make political statements in order to perform? No artist deserves to be put in such a situation simply to perform his or her art. Regardless of race, creed, country, cultural background, etc, my goal is to play music for all people. As musicians that is what we seek. – Blessed Love, Matis’

The controversy continues

One of the groups on the bill, La Gossa Sorda, from the Valencia region, have announced that if Matisyahu finally appears, they will not play. They said, ‘We repeat, in the face of the disinformation campaign launched by the mass media, that this is not a boycott of anyone for their religion or their ideas. Matisyahu has repeatedly played for Zionist political organisations supporting the Israeli state and army.’