The Artist Must Elect To Fight For Freedom or Slavery – Paul Robeson
A People’s Art Is The Genesis Of Their Freedom – Claudia Jones
Calling Our Artists to Action and Service
We are truly honored and privileged to absorb the people of Cuba as they proudly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the July 26th Movement led by Commandant Fidel Castro and Che Guevara storming the Moncada Barracks in 1953, thereby launching the guerilla campaign that led to the overthrow of the US-Spanish backed military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. All daughters and sons of Africa, both on the continent and the Diaspora are also carefully observing the Republic of Zimbabwe’s third Presidential election this century. While their citizens seek to emphatically make the statement on the world stage, they can resolve their political differences without external forces attempting to shape the destiny of the nation.
Because Malcolm X would have turned 88 years old on May 19th, African people in every corner of the world will be celebrating his life and work; this particular year, those reflections unfortunately coincide with the tragic and untimely death of his grandson and namesake Malcolm Shabazz who made his transition to the ancestors on May 9th, 2013. Our overwhelming desire to complete the work he left behind serves as the inspiration for reaching out to the artistic sector of the community at this crucial moment in history.
In what many consider Malcolm’s most heartfelt speech “Message to the Grassroots”, he eloquently stated, “Land is the basis of all independence”. That powerful statement on a practical level is the driving force behind the Land Reclamation Program (“LRP”) that was launched by the Government and people of Zimbabwe 13 years ago. The decision to reclaim 70% of their country’s most agriculturally resourceful land came with a price, the US-EU alliance imposed sanctions aimed at crippling Zimbabwe’s basic infrastructure and imploding their economy. The same identical measure was used by the Kennedy administration over 50 years ago when he made the decision to ruthlessly impose a blockade on Cuba, which was intended to make the Government and people of Cuba regret embracing a Socialist path and since has cost the island nearly 100 billion dollars in revenue. This diplomatic maneuver by President Kennedy came on the heels of the failed CIA Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, in which the objective was to overthrow the Cuban Government led by Fidel Castro. In the same aforementioned speech, Brother Malcolm called the Cuban Revolution a real revolution that overthrew the system. Because quality health care and education, women’s and youth empowerment and self determination are the staples of both Cuban and Zimbabwean Society, the blockade and sanctions have genocidal implications. It is on that basis we are calling on African musicians at home and abroad representing all genres of our music to make songs calling for the immediate lifting of the US-EU sanctions on Zimbabwe and the US blockade on Cuba.
We feel this action not only will serve as a working tribute to Brother Malcolm, but it sends a bold and uncompromising message to our former colonial and slave masters, that our art and culture remains an invaluable weapon which we will not hesitate to use to defend and consolidate any meaningful gains Africans have made anywhere on this planet. For those artists who are ready to make a contribution towards this effort, our goal is to put together a compilation album exposing the negative impact the sanctions and blockade have had on the people of Cuba and Zimbabwe and our goal is to have the music for this project completed by the first week of September. All interested artists can reach out by e-mail and contact us at palo02@yahoo.com or obiegbuna15@gmail.com for more details pertaining to the project.
With the entire world unequivocally opposed to both the US-EU sanctions on Zimbabwe and the US blockade on Cuba, the songs produced for this project will be sweet music, not only to the ears of the Daughters and Sons of Africa in 125 countries worldwide, but to all freedom loving people hoping and fighting for a world free of Racism, Exploitation and War for profit and theft. For those artists who respond to this call for action, a pool of research that consists of historical data and current events concerning developments in both Cuba and Zimbabwe will be made available to you.
Cuba Si Bloqueo No
Zimbabwe Forever US-EU Sanctions Never
Mutulu Olugbala AKA M1 of
Dead Prez
Obi Egbuna Jr.
US Correspondent To The Herald (Zimbabwe’s National Newspaper)
US based member of ZIMCUFA (Zimbabwe-Cuban Friendship Association)
