Caitlin Quinn
JEWISH reggae star Matisyahu has announced he will perform at the Valencia music festival that controversially axed him over a Palestinian debate earlier this week.
The American singer will perform tomorrow (August 22) at the Rototom Sunsplash music festival in Benacassim, after being re-invited by the shamed organisers.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Matisyahu said, “Today music wins. Freedom of expression wins.”
He had been banned from the festival after refusing organisers’ demands to publicly endorse the Palestinian state.
Following Matisyahu’s ban, the festival was widely criticised for anti-Semitism, as Matisyahu, who does not hold Israeli citizenship, was the only musician asked to make a political statement.
Organisers apologised to Matisyahu on Wednesday (August 19) and invited him to perform his originally scheduled August 22 concert, which he has just accepted.
“This was an excruciating decision, as I felt that my core, essential being was being used as a pawn for political convenience,” said the musician.
