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Soulico

By The World ⋅ March 22, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
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A wide array of Israeli artists have been getting greater international attention in the past couple of years. Bands like Soulico.

But it wasn’t an easy outing for Israel’s first cultural diplomatic presence at South by Southwest.

When the delegation from Israel’s consulate in New York arrived in Austin last week, relations between Israel and the US had become as tense as they’d been in years.

The announcement that Israel planned to build 1600 new Jewish homes in East Jerusalem provided pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Austin with a rallying cry.

Soulico

And they brought that cry to the sidewalks of Austin last week. The marchers came with bullhorns, Che t-shirts and placards.

They marched in front the club where the Israeli consulate was toasting the eight Israeli artists at the festival. Some of the marchers compared the treatment of Palestinians in the middle east today to blacks in South Africa decades ago.

…the demonstrators had a slogan suited for South by Southwest: ain’t no party in apartheid. Narsi, one of the protestors, is with the Detroit-based hip-hop label Emergence.

“You know, our basic thing is BDS, boycott-divestment-sanctions, we want the people of Palestine to be represented and for them to have an identification just like everybody else in the world does.”

Meantime, upstairs at the Israeli reception, the party was rolling along just fine. Anat Gilead is Israel’s consul to the US for cultural affairs. She hardly seemed to notice the controversy.

“We’re doing culture here. We’re focusing on music and people that music can bring. That is what we’re here for.”

Marco Werman: “Were you personally worried when you heard about the announcement of these, the construction of these new homes in East Jerusalem, on, about the effect it might have on Israel’s first kind of solid presence here at SXSW?”

Anat Gilead: “No, we really, what’s really important here are the bands, and whaht they bring with their talent and with their voices and with their presence, and this is really the main focus. And we have tons and tons of people coming and enjoying this music, and it speaks for itself, it’s really wonderful.”

“Like not everything is supposed to be political. Because in Israel, when you breath, it’s political. And when you speak, it’s definitely political.”

That’s Eyal Rob of the Israeli hip-hop group Soulico.

“But for us, as a manifesto of what we want to do, let’s leave politics out, and let’s see how real people work with real people, and do normal things, like real people do without ever asking why is it that way or not that way.”

One of Eyal Rob’s bandmates in Soulico is Ronen Sabbo. He said the protestors have it all wrong.

“They don’t know us personally, they don’t know what we are about. They don’t know that we are trying to do the opposite of any government or of any occupation or establishment. We are trying to do music with people like Arabic MCs, Arabic singers, we have Arabic instruments, and, it’s funny that they demonstrate in front of us as if we’re soldiers. We’re just musicians you know.”

But in fact, some pro-Palestinian demonstrators did know the work of Soulico and some of the other Israeli artists in Austin.

“We have no problem, we’re not here to boycott the artists per se, we did research on the artists and checked their work out and it’s not necessarily anything against them, but the Israeli consulate represents the Israeli government, regardless, you know what I mean, so you can’t really separate the two, you know, so…”

Marco Werman: “…but if you’ve got allies within these artists, then aren’t you distancing yourself from some of your allies within Israel?”

Narsi: “No, I believe if you support the state, then you’re supporting a Zionist ideology, which is at the end of the day, doesn’t contain any equality for our people.”

Hard feelings in Austin, a distant microcosm far from the Middle East.

At least one can assume that both the pro-Palestinian protestors on the street and the Israeli artists in the club agreed with the sentiment of the Soulico track Politrix.

Eyal Rob of Soulico

Get in where you fit in. In other words, support those who can support you. That cynicism could resonate with both Israeli and Palestinian listeners. It would be one of the few sentiments both sides might actually share.

For The World, I’m Marco Werman, Austin, Texas.

Check out 2010 SxSW podcast

Discussion

One comment for “Soulico”

  • http://www.alfargirl.com Gail Alfar

    Israel, what were you doing at SXSW 2010?

    South by Southwest is an annual film/music festival that takes place every April in Austin, Texas.
    Better known as SXSW, this ten-day long festival showcases emerging
    talent in music and film.

    So you may ask, why would the State of Israel step in to feature bands such as Soulico, Orphaned Land and Boom Pam? Why would the Israeli Consulate need to set
    up a booth for 3 full days at the SXSW Trade Show at the Austin Convention
    Center?

    This is an aggressive move by Israel known as the “Brand Israel” campaign to “craft a new image” of Israel, or to “create a brand
    disconnected from the Arab-Israeli conflict that focuses instead on Israel’s
    scientific and cultural achievements.” (see the Israeli daily Haaretz, in October 2008). The “Brand Israel” idea is being applied now
    to film, music, and even ballet performances here in the USA.

    The idea is to take the focus off of the war crimes that Israel has become so infamous for worldwide.
    Israel’s heinous war crimes against humanity include:

    ►The shelling of al-Fakhura Street in Jabaliya, where the UN agency for Palestine refugees
    (UNRWA) had opened a school for fleeing civilians to take refuge. UNRWA
    confirmed to the Goldstone commission that the Israeli army was “fully
    aware” that more than 1,300 civilians were taking refuge in the school.
    However, on 6 January 2009, four Israeli mortar shells were fired into the
    street outside the school, killing 35 civilians, including 11 members of the
    al-Deeb family. Witnesses described scenes of “chaos and carnage” as
    at least 40 more persons were injured by the blasts, the situation exacerbated
    by the difficulties in reaching ambulance services at the time.

    ►On 15 January 2009, Gaza City’s al-Quds Hospital was struck by a number of white phosphorous
    shells. The ensuing fires caused widespread panic and chaos among the sick and
    wounded, necessitated two evacuations of the hospital under extremely perilous
    conditions and caused huge financial losses. As a result of the destruction of
    the hospital’s infrastructure, an eight-year-old girl who had been shot by an
    Israeli sniper could not receive the requisite care and died. Contrary to
    claims made by the Israeli government, the Goldstone commission found no
    evidence that Palestinian resistance fighters used the hospital’s premises to
    launch attacks against Israeli forces.
    (see “The Goldstone Report” online)

    Some musicians who were playing at SXSW this year decided to stand up against the State of Israel, and
    the war crimes that Israel refuses to stand trial for. These musicians joined up with local Austin
    area activists in a protest on Congress Avenue on March the 18th, in
    front of the Lanai Rooftop Lounge. This
    was where the Israeli Consulate was having a Showcase Party for some of the
    Israeli bands it was generously sponsoring.

    Using a bullhorn, and shouting “Free Free Palestine” and “Ain’t No Party in Apartheid,” Invincible
    Detroit led the protest and demonstration.
    Signs read “Don’t Let Music Disguise Injustice” and “Ain’t No Party in
    Apartheid” as well as “BOYCOTT ISRAEL.”

    Local musician and activist Ramsey Doany stated “We’re protesting because these artists are not
    merely artists, they’re tools that Hasbara uses to gain support for the
    genocide of the Palestinian people.”

    Narci of ArabSummit was interviewed by Marco Werman of PRI (Public Radio International) and stated, “We want the people of Palestine to be represented
    and for them to have an identification just like everybody else in the world
    does. We have no problem with the
    artists, we’re not here to boycott the artists per se, we did research on the
    artists and checked their work out and it’s not necessarily anything against
    them, but the Israeli consulate represents the Israeli government, regardless,
    so you can’t really separate the two.” Marco Werman (of PRI) asked, “But if
    you’ve got allies within these artists, then aren’t you distancing yourself
    from some of your allies within Israel?” Narsi: “No, I believe if you support
    the state (of Israel), then you’re supporting a Zionist ideology, which, at the
    end of the day, doesn’t contain any equality for our people.”

    Also present at the protest were pro-Palestine hiphop rappers Invincible Detroit, Ragtop, and Omar
    Offendum. The music of these artists
    reflect a deep respect and concern for Palestinians under occupation. As Israel continues to deprive the
    Palestinian people of their basic human rights, an increase in protests
    worldwide is to be expected.

    “The end of apartheid stands as one of the crowning accomplishments of the past century, but we would not have succeeded without
    the help of international pressure– in particular the divestment movement of
    the 1980s. Over the past six months, a similar movement has taken shape, this
    time aiming at an end to the Israeli occupation”. Desmond
    Tutu

    Pro Palestine musicians and filmmakers are encouraged to check out PalestineSXSW.org and consider being
    a part of PalestineSXSW 2011.

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