BY FREDDY BY EMAIL
I have lived overseas for decades but cannot tell you how many Africans are into Ed Sheeran’s music. The 35 year old is ranked 13th youngest richest British worth 370 million pounds. Surprisingly, he mostly plays solo (guitar and vocals) – no big bands. Style is mostly pop, folk, soft rock, hip hop- which fans adore. Lyrics, eg “Perfect” (2017), mostly about romance:
“Baby I am dancing in the dark with you between my arms. Barefoot in the grass, listening to our favourite song…”
In September, Ed Sheeran kick-started a tour of America and among his supporting artists was rapper Macklemore (Benjamin Hammond Haggerty). The 43 year old, ended being kicked out of Ed Sheeran’s gigs after openly declaring “Free Palestine” in one of his acts.
The incident sparked a drama that is still firing. Powerful billionaire, Robert Kraft- owner of the vast venues (stadiums) which the tour is on- supports Israel and was according to various Western media sources allegedly involved in the Epstein scandal alongside President Donald Trump. Kraft and various Israeli support groups baptised Macklemore an “Anti-Semite.” a term used these days when anyone questions the oppression of Palestinians.
Macklemore maintained his stand was not against Jews but the FEW committing genocide.
As we went to print, Ed Sheeran has issued two statements. Charging that he is “apolitical”…. His band and all musicians on the tour PULLED OUT in solidarity with Macklemore. Isolated Ed Sheeran has been dubbed a hypocrite. How come in 2022 he supported victims of the Ukraine war? What makes the blood of Ukrainians different from Palestinians? Last weekend he emotionally pleaded that he was “the victim.”
In the middle of it all, various musicians reacted. Paloma Faith said in a TV interview that she “would rather have no good music career than NOT DOING something… and live in multi million mansion… what we are witnessing is the erasure of a people…” She said citing for example Anne Lennox the British star singer who has fearlessly backed Palestinians.
The question that has been asked is should artists bend to rich billionaires or support a cause where we are witnessing the total extermination of a people? Just like in the past, entire annihilation of American natives “Red Indians” and Aborigines in Australia?
Some say Ed Sheeran saying he is “apolitical” is in itself political.
