World renowned South African DJ, Black Coffee has been met with serious backlash on Twitter over his decision to play in Tel Aviv, Israel over the weekend. The DJ played for a sold-out crowd amidst international calls for Israel to stop the apartheid system it has in place against Palestinians.
Thank you @the.tripping I Love you Telaviv ❤
Now off to @AwakeningFestiv afternoon set and Venice at night.#Godsveryown #soldout pic.twitter.com/UO2rJDhCZ3— #PIECESOFME (@RealBlackCoffee) March 31, 2018
This barrage of comments was invited by a tweet Black Coffee posted which included footage of the crowd at the sold-out gig. His fans quickly expressed their disappointment at his venue choice, indicating that Black Coffee should understand the plight of the Palestinians as he also grew up under the harsh Apartheid system.
This stink raises a lot of questions surrounding the freedom to express art and global consciousness. Black Coffee is a global brand with a huge following in every major country and tourist destination. With appearances in Ibiza, Las Vegas, Ultra SA and more international gigs, can he afford to ‘feign ignorance’ on worldwide current affairs?!
As an artist from Africa, South Africa particularly, where creatives express their protest through their Art, his indifferent stance on this rather unfortunate outing sparks huge contrasts and contradictions.
In as much as we could bash him for not boycotting the show, is he required to represent our collective opinions wherever he goes? Doesn’t the 44-year-old DJ deserve to express his Art anywhere in the world, less the moral obligation of Political correctness?
Maybe the outrage is only greater because he did little to nothing to raise his voice against the current situation in Israel. Party-loving Israelis aside, his tweet has been seen as a rubber stamp approval for the Apartheid-esque society that is Israel and his fellow South Africans are not having any of it.
Speaking of not having any of anything, don’t we individually have a responsibility if we so decide to advocate against the injustices of the Israeli government. Boycott Israel hasn’t been exactly been on Trends SA’s list lately and neither have intense woke exchanges between young Africans across the country about fellows in Eritrea, Sudan and Ethiopia and their overwhelming search for a Mecca in countries such as Israel.
“Imagine a world where celebs, especially African ones, could use their influence to shape opinions and protect the helpless and voiceless” – they (read as we) say, and that’s about all we do.
Black Coffee’s response to the onslaught was a mixture of “I’m just an Artist” and “my family’s gotta eat.” Naturally, it was met by an overwhelming mix of reactions.
Like everyone else I have rights and free will and no Black Coffee is not a political party…I work as an entertainer to feed my Family.
To sum it up….I’ll take a bullet for my Family.— #PIECESOFME (@RealBlackCoffee) April 2, 2018
Do you think that Black Coffee deserves the fire that is coming to his end? Read the tweets below and tell us what you think!
South Africa’s isolation and the Academic & Cultural boycott are part of the reasons Apartheid capitulated to the call for freedom. It is morally & politically insensitive for DJ Black Coffee to just go on partying in Apartheid Israel, whilst it kills & oppresses innocent people.
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) April 2, 2018
Black Coffee legit can’t feign ignorance over playing in Tel-Aviv. We live in the age of access to information, the man is well travelled & is an active Twitter user. At some point he would have come across the Zionists murder agenda. From a SA’n no less? Cuts to the bone.
— the fearless self ✨ (@Msomifaya) April 1, 2018
Black Coffee playing in Israel and being arrogant about it shows exactly how South Africans, especially blacks took/take apartheid so lightly…. but then again, most of Black Coffee’s fans are as ignorant like him, so he doesn’t care
— Thami KaSlwane Mthimkhulu (@Mtamerri) April 1, 2018
I have been a fan of Black Coffee’s music for years & years. His decision to play in Israel & then justify it by saying he needs to feed his family is an insult, more so now after Prime Minister Binyàmin Netanyahu has said African migrants are worse than terrorists.
— Siphumelele Zondi (@SZondi) April 2, 2018
Brother Black Coffee also. That Israeli thing is just bad. Your family doesnt deserve to eat from the blood of the Palestinian children. Artists sacrificed for the liberation of S.A. they refused to break the cultural boycott. No one is neutral in the face of injustice.
— andile (@Mngxitama) April 2, 2018
