Yousef Gnaoui, stage name Sef, has been dropped as a possible Ambassador for Freedom on Liberation Day because the “room for maneuver” for the National Committee for May 4 and 5 is limited. The artist was told this last fall. In an email to his manager, “the tension in society surrounding the theme of May 4 and 5” is mentioned.
The email states that this year the National Committee has chosen “ambassadors who are less outspoken about social issues and current international conflicts” so as “not to become a plaything of such dynamics”. Sef is known as a very committed artist who captures the fear of our times.
Sef will perform in Groningen at the liberation festival
He talked about missing out on this ambassadorship in a documentary about his music project Iceland with Hang Youth singer Abel van Gijlswijk on the YouTube channel of 3voor12 (VPRO). “They actually say: you can express your opinion, but not if it is not exactly the opinion that we think belongs on Liberation Day. But I think that is at odds with what the day is for. I just think it is harmful that on a day when we should reflect on the worst aspects of humanity, we cannot name that. Running away from that is really fake.” He calls the fact that he was not invited for an interview the result of pro-Palestine statements he has made.
A spokesperson for the National Committee does not comment on Sef’s statements and the question of which statements would make him too outspoken. This year’s Ambassadors for Freedom are La Fuente, De Jostiband, Karsu and Rolf Sanchez.
Performing in Groningen
Sef, the one with his album Dear Monsters recently won the Edison Pop Prize for the best album, and will perform at the liberation festival in Groningen. He was approached directly by the organization, this did not go through the National Committee.
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The spokesperson cannot say whether, as he claims, Sef is the first to drop out because he is too outspoken. “I don’t know. There is a longlist every year. A polyphonic palette is being sought, with artists also being eliminated every year.”
The message to Sef and his manager also refers to “incidents” that fell “outside the context of May 4 and 5”, but did have an influence. Reference is made to singer Douwe Bob, who left a performance at a Jewish football tournament when he saw pamphlets from a Zionist organization in circulation. Punk duo Bob Vylan caused a stir by chanting the slogan “Death to the IDF”, the Israeli army, in the Amsterdam pop venue Paradiso. The Concertgebouw in that city also came under fire after banning, and then facilitating, a concert with a cantor affiliated with the IDF. Hang Youth boycotted Zwarte Cross because of the investor behind this Achterhoek festival, KKR. This is a private equity company that invests in tech companies in Israel, among other things.
