LIFE LESSONS
Thrilled to Take My Poetry to WOMAD New Zealand 2024
Until they rescinded the invite
No hay victoria sin dolor. ~ Lolita Lebrón, Freedom Fighter for Puerto Rican Independence
In late October, I found out about WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance), the three-day March 2024 New Zealand festival. Curious about potentially bringing my craft to that distant land, I was excited to see they were accepting submissions to their Poetry Slam Contest.
So I submitted a three-minute video performing one of my poems I’d long ago committed to memory (reading from a page wouldn’t be too impressive). Since I had trouble uploading the zip file to their portal [and because I also wanted to inquire about their results wait time — the site indicates they would notify participants in February 2024], I contacted them thereto (on 24 October).
Josie Hunter-Annand, their Associate Programme Director, responded nearly two weeks later, on 6 November to advise details of the festival (much of which I already knew). She was cordial but didn’t answer my questions about neither the wait time nor the file upload (though, fortunately, I’m a persistent person, so on the third try I was able to upload my video file successfully).
On the same day, I reiterated my query about WOMAD NZ’s notification time frame because the trek from Borikén to New Zealand would entail a huge expense and planning.
Something that stood out at me in my communication with Josie was the greetings [and closings] she used — in non-English. As a polyglot currently at five languages, I was curious about ‘Kia Ora’ and learned it is from the Te Reo Māori language — the second (after English) official language of New Zealand. It’s important to note it is their Indigenous language — one I was glad to read is ‘experiencing a significant revival.’
Out of respect, I followed by using same in my communications (Kia ora — hello, and Ngā mihi — regards or thank you).
Slowly, I began to understand this was the type of event I wanted to be a part of because it aligned with something close to my heart — the preservation and nurturing of culture, especially Indigenous one. Indeed, per WOMAD NZ’s website, the festival is a cultural one:
[It] is one of the longest-running, best culturally established festivals on the planet. The festival began in the UK back in 1982, intending to celebrate diverse cultures and their artistic offerings from around the globe.
Since that first event, more than 160 WOMAD festivals have been held in 27 countries and islands all over the world, including everywhere from Abu Dhabi to the US, Australia to Sardinia, Canada to South Africa — and, of course, New Zealand.
Always family-oriented, WOMAD festivals are the ultimate culmination of sounds, scenery, and good vibes. Through festivals, community events, and educational projects, we aim to excite, delight, and open your mind to the worth and potential of a multicultural society.
“WOMAD has offered many audiences an insight into cultures other than their own through the enjoyment of music — drawing people and artists together, proving, as well as anything, the stupidity of racism,” says Peter Gabriel, co-founder of WOMAD.
New Zealand 2023 marked the 20th year since WOMAD was first held at the picture-perfect Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park in New Plymouth, Taranaki.
So, what happened after my file was uploaded successfully? After over a month of waiting, I heard back from Josie (on 10 Dec) with the fantastic news: they accepted my video and extended an invitation to perform my poetry at the 2024 festivities!
Here’s where the situation started going downhill.
It dawned on me I needed to know their position on the war on Palestine, so began scouring the web to see what I’d find. As it turns out, WOMAD NZ 2018 had extended an invite to Israeli singer, Victoria Hanna — this was opposed by Kia Ora Gaza, an ‘Aotearoa/New Zealand network dedicated to support international efforts to break the inhumane and illegal Israeli siege and naval blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid, fostering fraternal relations, enhancing understanding of Palestine and the Middle East, and cooperating with others who have similar aims.’
The Kia Ora Gaza 31 Dec 2017 blog entry [by John Minto] read in part:
Israeli singer Victoria Hanna is due to perform at the New Plymouth WOMAD festival (17–19 March 2018). She should never have been invited to come. Hanna is currently based at the University of California as part of the Visiting Israeli Artist Programme of The Israel Institute who describe their role in these terms –
Lorde’s decision to pull out of her planned concert in Israel next year is having a profound impact on public discussion here and overseas about Palestine/Israel.
Overall the public reaction reflects the huge shift in opinion from earlier times when New Zealanders stood behind Israel which they saw as a plucky little country surrounded by hostile Arab hordes. A mixture of anti-Arab racism and European guilt regarding the Holocaust sustained strong support for Israel. Backing this up was the Zionist tactic of crying “anti-Semitism” to any criticism of Israel.
Israel promoted itself as the “victim” (and was widely seen as such in the West) and had a free hand to brutalise the people of Palestine with at best muted criticism. Abuses of human rights, blatant violations of international law and thumbing its nose at UN resolutions (including Security Council resolutions) became the norm for Israel.
This “older view” of Israel was neatly summed in Brian Edwards’s facebook post — see Martyn Bradbury’s column. It’s hard to believe an otherwise intelligent person could make such dumb comments.
New Zealanders, and most people around the western world, have moved on. Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, its attacks, invasions and medieval siege of Gaza along with its brutal military occupation of the West Bank have begun to change perceptions.
Israel can only sustain its enormous injustice through brute force and this is politically unsustainable.
Hanna was not pulled from the event. A bit more research led me to learn of another artist, Chilean-born grandson of Holocaust refugees, Nano Stern (born, Fernando Daniel Stern Britzmann) who performed at the same WOMAD NZ 2018.
In fairness to the organization, my web search also brought me to the 2012 festival where the Palestinian group, Le Trio Joubran with renowned percussionist Yousef Hbeisch was featured.
Obviously, by simply being Israeli and/or Jewish doesn’t make anyone anti-Palestinian. Still, I was curious about WOMAD NZ’s stance on the decades-long [and continued] subjugation of my Palestinian sisters and brothers.
The day after Josie’s email notifying me of the invite to their 2024 grand event, I sent a message asking about their stance on Palestine.
Intending to show both (a) an appreciation for the opportunity to showcase my craft and (b) my unwavering support for Palestine, I wrote my message in a respectful way, but one that didn’t downplay the importance of my convictions for social justice.
Even before sending the email I was almost 100% positive of what the response would be. What surprised me a bit was how quickly Josie replied. It took nearly two weeks for her first response, then she delayed a month for the second reply, but for this issue on Palestine, she replied the same day on 11 Dec.
As an emerging poet, a chance to have my work featured at an event the magnitude of WOMAD NZ 2024 is a lifetime dream. Even though the financial factor was a big concern for me, I had begun to consider fundraising — I was that excited about heading to the other side of the world.
And though there is no guarantee I would’ve won the slam contest, just having thousands hear my protest verses would have been a gift.
My poetry is political — there is no way around it. I hold strong opinions against colonization, racism, machismo and a myriad of social justice issues. To be told that an event is ‘apolitical’ came as a slap in the face. It’s as if Josie and her team were saying —
Lola, we’d be honored to have you join our cultural event, but you mustn’t utter any words that might offend those in power. We can only extend an invitation if you promise to not speak your mind freely.
As a person who comes from a colonized people, as a Brown woman, and as someone who is unwavering in her commitment to uplifting our voices — especially ones that reflect my rich Indigenous and African heritages — it was impossible to keep quiet about this life lesson.
As someone whose voice is boldly unapologetic and stands with our Palestinian sisters and brothers, I’m seeing WOMAD’s decision to rescind their invite as another gift.
It’s easier to preach about being an advocate for culture, as long as no one questions same. In using my voice to question WOMAD NZ I inevitably reminded them some things are non-negotiable.
I won’t be heading to New Zealand. The 2024 festival attendees will not have the honor of hearing my verses nor experiencing my wondrous aura. And that’s ok — I learned a long time ago that my vibe ain’t for everyone!
There is no victory without pain. ~ Lolita Lebrón
Gracias for reading.
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I appreciate each of you.
Acknowledging the Arawak, the First Peoples of Borikén, on whose unceded lands my work is created. In gratitude for and in honor of our Elders, past, present, and emerging. May my work always unapologetically and boldly uplift our wondrous Indigenous Taíno, Iñeri, and African roots.