Afropunk Organizers Defend M.I.A., Keep Her on Festival Bill

Organizers announced today that M.I.A. is still headlining Afropunk’s London festival despite backlash over comments she made about the Black Lives Matter movement. In a statement, Afropunk wrote, “To us, the fact that M.I.A.’s comments sparked dialogue about a global view of the Black struggle is not a failing,” later adding, “The debate is healthy and as people who have long been silenced, we refuse to participate in silencing of other voices.” They continued, “We hope that this event also brings to light the experiences of black Brits, immigrants and refugees in the UK, who are continuously erased.”

The controversy began back in April, when M.I.A. told London’s Evening Standard magazine, “It’s interesting that in America the problem you’re allowed to talk about is Black Lives Matter. It’s not a new thing to me — it’s what Lauryn Hill was saying in the 1990s, or Public Enemy in the 1980s. Is Beyoncé or Kendrick Lamar going to say Muslim Lives Matter? Or Syrian Lives Matter? Or this kid in Pakistan matters? That’s a more interesting question.”

Afropunk London takes place September 24 at Alexander Palace.

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