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The Montreal International Jazz Festival canceled all other performances of SLĀV in response to critics who accused the show of cultural appropriation.
In a statement made public Wednesday, the festival apologized to those who were "wounded" by
"Since the beginning of the performances of SLĀV, the festival team has been shaken and deeply affected by all the testimonials we have received, "said the festival
. was made with the singer of the show, Betty Bonifbadi. Nine additional concerts were scheduled between today and 14 July.
"We would like to apologize to the people who were injured and obviously this was not our intention at all," the festival said. Aly Ndiaye, Quebec hip-hop artist and historian better known as Webster, spoke out against SLAV's "blatant lack of sensitivity" in an opinion piece last week.
He hopes that Quebec will have learned something from all the experience.
"In order for whites to play black slaves, in this context, it was the problem: some saw it, some did not … But [if] maybe some people have taken advantage of it – so that's a gain "
Sylvain Cormier, veteran music critic of Le Devoir, said that he enjoyed the debate that the show had sparked, but he regretted that It was not canceled.
"I liked this piece, SLÀV, because it made me want" He said that the show made him ask the question if he was doing enough, and talking enough, about "oppressed people in the world."
He said that the fact that some of the
Le Devoir musical critic, Sylvain Cormier, said that he would have liked the show not to be canceled (CBC)
Telling stories outside one's own culture. According to Webster, artists need to involve people from these communities in the creative process. 19659002] "No," Oh, we take history and bring it to the world, but you do not have your say. "
He had been a consultant on the show, but resigned after seeing He said that slavery and genocide are two clear examples of topics that should be treated with additional sensitivity.
"You have stories that still hurt people, you have stories where you have to pay attention [with] to the way you talk about it."
Aly Ndiaye, Quebec hip-hop artist and historian , was a paid consultant on the history of slavery. (CBC)
Cormier disagreed, saying that consulting with other groups hindered creative expression
"If you start to consult, well you [start to say]" Do I have to do that? Should I do that? Oh, we should do it [it] that way because it's going to do that.
For Webster, however, the cultural landscape of Quebec requires such consideration because minorities are still underrepresented in the media and the arts. [TRADUCTION] "Often Here, Majorities Speak and"
"This would have been an opportunity to bring on stage more black artists.
Reimbursable Notes
The venue of the show, the New World Theater (TNM) on St. Catherine Street, stated that it will reimburse all tickets purchased for the show.
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the theater said that he has collaborated with the Jazz Festival for a long time, and he has not hesitated to offer "his stage to the creators."
"Throughout its history, the TNM has given full freedom of expression to creators, because a theater is at the forefront of any expression and debate that takes place. # 39; ensue. " 19659002] Demonstrations took place last week against the show, with dozens of people gathered outside the venue.
Protesters gathered last week in front of the theater where the Jazz Festival featuring Slavic music took place (19659016) Lucas Charlie Rose, a Montreal musician who staged protests against the show, called his cancellation of relief.
"To be honest, when I organized the demonstrations, it came out of despair because I saw that the show was going on He said that he hoped the situation would spark a conversation in Montreal about cultural appropriation.
The question is much greater than this one. "
Criticism is widespread
A local collective of artists, musicians, musicians and musicians University and community organizers in the Montreal area has collected over 1,500 signatures online against the show. .
"We are alarmed by the rejection and choking of dark voices in the creation, development, staging and promotion of the SLV show", states the petition
"These songs were born of needs of people of African descent Bondage. "
Earlier this month, Bonifbadi and the show's director, Robert Lepage, defended the show, while acknowledging that the story of the Slavery belongs "above all" to the victims and their descendants. history has been written as much by the oppressors as by the oppressed, by both whites and blacks, "they write in a joint statement. "It is necessary to continue the dialogue on this difficult period, first to testify, but also to avoid repeating it in the future."
A spokesman for the production company Lepage, Ex Machina, told Radio-Canada the festival's decision, but would not comment further.
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