Syrian Lena Chamamyan will no longer appear in a music festival in Austria, the diva has stated she will boycott the European music event due to the participation of one Israeli band. In her statements, Lena "refuses to be part of a program that has the Israeli embassy log imprinted on the book" The Music Festival was set for October 30 2012 under the banner "Salam Orient 20102"
Her press release goes "I have no issues with the Jewish faith, culture or human being" My issue is the dealing of the Israeli government its policies that steals lands form the natives and their walls of separations they erect. My must has always been about tearing down walls not building them. The City of Damascus is her home and her heritage is Armenian. She resides in Paris, France. It seemed that the organizers feature the Israeli Embassy logo on Lena's event page--something she loathes seeing. And they insisted on her to perform with an Israeli band.
We all have opinions, but we need to be respectful of Lena's wishes. She wishes not to be part of a program that has been endorsed by a government that has shown nothing but ill action against its neighbors. I have written before about Lena and her work, she is a true star with a heart of gold. Her music is about the power of dreams and not the nightmares that Israel has been offering to others.
I understand that while there are many worthy Israeli musicians who also love peace and work for it, it complicated things when official governments gets involved. I understand the Israelis do not want to talk to governments in the Middle East to achieve peace, but they do not mind singing about it in Europe and pretending to want it for everyone.
Lena Chamamyan - Yamma Lala
About Lena's musical training
Throughout her university education, she joined many workshops in the field of classic music with Gloria Skalki (Italy ) Karmen Filarna ( Italy ) Mia bits ( Netherlands ). She also joined Jazz workshops, most importantly, with the German Accordionist ( Manfred leuschter ).this resulted in lena and Manfred featured on each others albums and many concerts in Syria and Germany . She also worked with many vocalists and musicians of different nationalities in many jazz festivals in Syria.
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Thanks for this article. Since the Israeli government was sponsoring the festival, this courageous singer withdrew. Three other musicians also withdrew. Lebanese MC Malikah (Lynn Fattouh), Palestinian MC Boikutt and Palestinian DJ Sotusura will now no longer perform at the festival which runs in Vienna and Graz between 16 October and 10 November.
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