In 2010, Ahmad Zatari organized the first Music Freedom Day in Amman, Jordan. He is currently working closely with Freemuse as a coordinator and consultant for the Middle East and North Africa regions to advocate for, promote, and investigate artistic freedom of expression. What is his view on freedom of music?
- Coming from a heated region, controlled by conservative politicians that reject any change in society, music can lead to a real change - or at least give a voice to the real change on the ground - considering that it's the most popular form of art. By rejecting freedom of music, abusing and suppressing and marginalizing, authorities eliminate an important way of expression.
Ahmad Zatari means that music is political in different ways. It can be manipulated, he states, like in Jordan when authorities started to use hip-hop musicians to promote certain goals. On the other hand, the Arab spring has proved that music is the voice of the street's political message: whether its' El General in Tunisia, Ramy Essam in Egypt, Ibrahim Qashoush in Syria, or Torabyeh and El Feri in Jordan. Zatari also points out the lack of authors' rights as a way for authorities to carry out censorship.
- There is a link between freedom of speech and authors' rights. By applying copyright laws, musicians, artists and authors can oppose the authorities' censorship.
In Stockholm on November 21st, Ahmad Zatari will speak on his work with Music Freedom Day in Jordan.
- I will talk about the effect of Music Freedom Day on the musical scene in Jordan, but also on the music scene in the Arab countries as I am the coordinator for the MENA region network for Freemuse.
