SAVVY Contemporary Rejects Rapper Abu Hajar as Speaker for Palestinian Film Screening Over State Funding Concerns.

I was invited as a guest speaker at an event organized by Cinelogue and Savvy Contemporary as part of the Savvy program LET'S SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT A LITTLE CULTURE, which was to take place on February 22, 2024. Cinelogue’s aim for the event was to highlight Palestinian narratives outside of the Berlinale context. Following the initial agreement, Savvy informed Cinelogue, as relayed to me by a Savvy employee, that they perceived the program as "too focused on Palestine". They expressed concerns regarding potential repercussions from state funding.

Furthermore, Savvy stipulated that my name, as a rapper and activist, should not be included in any program materials. They also insisted that I could only attend as a member of the audience due to my boycott of the 2017 Pop-Kultur festival over its association with the Israeli Embassy. Consequently, my participation was effectively revoked due to my principled stance against performing under the sponsorship of a settler colonial state, a decision which contradicted Savvy's purported commitment to decolonization.

However, the staff at Cinelogue rejected these conditions, asserting that my inclusion was integral to the program's goal of amplifying pro-Palestine voices. Despite this, Savvy, represented by three members of its administration, as I was informed by one of their employees, adamantly refused my involvement. As a result, the event relocated to a different venue, Spore Initiative. I have requested a formal apology from Savvy for their actions, as I consider it crucial for psychological rectification. However, as of now, this has not been provided.

I don't view this cancellation simply as a matter of ‘not taking sides’ or being concerned about funding, but rather as a deliberate effort to silence the pro-Palestine perspective. Savvy's administration may emphasize the necessity to save their funds, leaving us, as artists who have spoken up for Palestine, to endure the financial and psychological repercussions of being canceled. This feels more like a punishment for boycotting the apartheid state than simply a concern over financial stability. Meanwhile, Savvy continues to promote itself as a bastion of decoloniality and a champion of marginalized voices.