African Activist Archive

This press release on the 535th meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid reports on the Committee's hearings about the cultural boycott of South Africa, at which seven organizations spoke about their involvement in the boycott along with representatives of two national liberation movements - the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan African Congress of Azania (PAC). Kate Clark of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement reported on the July 1983 African festival in honor of Nelson Mandela's birthday organized with the support of artists. Jean-Pierre Richard reported that the Mouvement Anti-Apartheid of France had advocated a policy of sanctions to help combat apartheid. Francesco Mascini of the Holland Committee on Southern Africa (Komitee Zuidelijk Afrika) said that the Netherlands severed cultural ties with South Africa in 1981. Charlayne Haynes of the Foundation for Community of Artists reported that, through the Art Against Apartheid October Movement, artists sought to explore ways to keep their work out of South African galleries. Tandi Gcabashe of the American Friends Service Committee said entertainers such as Lena Horne, Roberta Flack, Tony Bennett, and Muhammad Ali has turned down fees to perform in South Africa. Bob Law of the Black Radio Advisory Council spoke about promoting participation in the boycott. Yole Grant of Canadians Concerned about South Africa had organized the Stop Entertaining Apartheid Coalition. At the hearing, Randall Robinson of TransAfrica represented Artists and Athletes against Apartheid, chaired by Arthur Ashe and Harry Belafonte, who encouraged their colleagues not to perform in South Africa. The press release also says the Special Committee has published a list of entertainers, actors, conductors, opera singers and others who recently have performed in South Africa (document 20/83 of the Centre against Apartheid). The list includes Frank Sinatra, opera singer Montserrat Caballe, country singer Kenny Rogers, jazz pianist Chick Correa, actor Telly Savalas, singer Johnny Mathis, the Sha Na Na rock group, The Beach Boys, singer and actress Liza Minnelli, and singers Nana Mouskouri, Julio Iglesias, and Barry Manilow. The press release reported that Enuga Reddy, Assistant Secretary-General of the Centre against Apartheid, said the Centre together with the Special Committee, would also publicize the names of those who supported the boycott and refused to go to South Africa. The press release summarizes the statements made by the witnesses. The document discusses E.S. Reddy. [Note: Tandi Gcabashe is spelled Gcabasche in this document.]

African Activist Archive

ANTI-APARTHEID COMMITTEE HEARS SEVEN MORE STATEMENTS ON CULTURAL BOYCOTT OF SOUTH AFRICA

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