16/09/2024
This Sunday evening I will be playing at a benefit gig called Gaza Mi Seh. The name comes from Vybz Kartel's famous catchphrase, which doesn't really have anything to do with Palestine - it's just an endorsement of his crew called "Gaza". Back in the late 2000s, Jamaican dancehall was dominated by a rivalry between Kartel's camp (Gaza) and Mavado's camp (Gully) and people would often declare their allegiance by saying either "Gaza mi seh" or "Gully mi seh". Anyway, this benefit gig does have something to do with Palestine, in that it will raise funds for the Sameer Project, which is an aid organization led by four Palestinians in the diaspora who are working on a tent encampment project that aims to provide shelter and support to people in Gaza - specifically, perinatal and neonatal females, children with physical or mental disabilities, and families and adults with special needs and mobility issues.
It seems that my involvement in this gig has angered some listeners of my radio show, who have accused me of "supporting terrorists", telling me that there are essentially no innocent people in Gaza. I do not accept this, and I wholeheartedly support humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza and the West Bank, just as I would support them anywhere in the world. This benefit will also raise funds for three other charities. The Dhadjowa Foundation is an Australian charity focused on stopping black deaths in custody, and providing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families whose loved ones have died in custody. The Khartoum Aid Kitchen is a non-profit initiative that aims to fight hunger in Sudan. Focus Congo is a non-profit aid organisation focused on Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Though these are all serious causes, this evening should be a night of upful dancehall vibes. It has been organised by the amazing Jungle City Collective, and will feature some of Melbourne's best dancers - JC Collective, the Burn City Queenz, Chuby Dice, Culture Queens Mentee Crew, and the Jungle City Dance Company. DJs on the night include Sista Itations, Amadeus X and I. Please come out ready for a proper bashment party, and support some great causes.
