Assaf: Our people are educated, we are not ignorant, the occupation is trying to market the idea that we are terrorists. International and Arab media is marginalizing the Palestinian people from so many facets, they are just interested in the politics. They only talk about; "They died..they were shot." .. Come and see.. why won’t you give them a state? We have all the building blocks of a state, what do you want? Women are in leadership positions, also women here are more educated than men. Tinah: A question about the art scene in Gaza. The art scene in Gaza has produced, and of course you are the biggest example, but it also has produced things in music the Arab world have not heard before, things that are unordinary.... Assaf: This is exactly what I mean, the media in general, have marginalized everything and is concentrating on politics. Come and see, I know a kid who plays the Qanun*, if he enters a competition, he will win, and will be successful. You have musicians, poets, composers, and we have everything. Our problem is occupation, if it’s removed--... We want our rights, we are not asking for the impossible. Tinah: There is a global audience that is starting to get to know you, there are people who don’t understand Arabic, and despite that, they love your songs and your music, what do you say to these people? Assaf: I tell them that we as Palestinains and Arabs have the right to our freedom and our rights. We have the right to establish a state. We have all the elements to establish a state, cultural, educational. Remove the occupation, and let us move freely like any normal citizen in his country. Just this. *Tahweed: To remove the Arabic and Islamic Character and enforce the Jewish one *Qanun: a string instrument played in much of the Middle East, Central Asia, and southeastern Europe.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 01:12:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015