TEL AVIV – South African rap duo, Die Antwoord, is being pressured by the boycott Israel movement to cancel its upcoming concert in Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported.
“It has come to our attention and the attention of our Israeli and Palestinian allies that you intend performing in Israel during June 2016,” South African Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) activists wrote in a letter to the group. “As fellow South Africans we are proud of our artists’ international success and, in particular, in the case of Die Antwoord, your innovative musical and performance artistry.”
According to the anti-Israel activists, the parallels between Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and South Africa’s history of apartheid should be enough for the group to forego their June 8 performance.
“We humbly request you as fellow South Africans to choose to stand on the side of and abide by the boycott called by Palestinian civil society in their struggle for freedom and justice – a boycott that has received increasing support from Israeli peace activists as well,” the BDS supporters wrote.
“We trust that you will seriously consider our request not to perform in Israel and that your decision will reflect a commitment to justice, freedom and democratic rights.”
The Afrikaans rap group’s signature lyrics and provocative performances have caused a sensation on the internet, with views of their YouTube clips reaching the tens of millions.
The songs, which they term “Zef” – an Afrikaans term loosely akin to “redneck” – include explicit language in both Afrikaans and English.