Africa
Zimbabwea
Thomas Mapfumo, the most popular artist in Zimbabwean music for the past 20 years, has been forced to move to the United States after bans and death threats followed his criticism of prime minister Robert Mugabe.(2)
Sam Muraya, Franco Luambo Makiadi, Thomas Mapfumo, and Oliver Mtukudzi are amoung musicians that have been banned in Africa. (3)
to read more about censorship in Africa click here
Middle East Pakistan
In Province, Pashto singer, Sardar Yousafzai and 11 members of his orchastra were ambushed and shot by an armed group. The group was part the Taliban's violent campaign against musical expression. (4)
Palestine
Isreali officials placed restrictions on the free movement of musicians traveling to and from West Bank. (1)
Iran
In 1997 a ban was placed on women so that they could not sing in public. (1)
more about the Middle East here
Asia Burma
Kham Lait's songs about civil war and homeland struggle. He was made to avoid words such as smoke, guns, and peace in his songs by the PSB (Press Scrutiny Board). (2)
Yemen
Fahd al-Qarni,singer and comedian, faced charges of insulting the president. The reasoning was because al-Qarni's songs mixed folk music with criticism of government policies. (4)
Europe
Lebanon
Singer Marcel Khalife has been prosecuted twice for blasphemy after he turned verses from the Koran into music. (1)
Turkey
Koma Asmin, an all female group, was recently tried for singing the Kurdish anthem by the Istanbul State Security Court. The anthem has been banned for sixty years. (1)
Bulent Ersoy, a transexual singer, was charged with “turning the public against military service." The reasoning was because of remarks on tv saying that if she had a son she would not send him to the war. (4)
Mexico
The popular ballads known as narcocorridos are censored because they glorify drug bandits.(2)
Cuba
Carlos Calafell, director of radio station Nueva Gerona, was fired for playing a rap song that was considered critical of Fidel Castro's regime.
Gorki Luis Aguila Carrasco, from the punk group Porno Par Ricardo, was sentenced to four years in prison. Carrasco was charged for drug trafficking without evidence.(2)
(2) Korpe, M. (2004). Shoot the singer!. New York, NY: Zed Books Ltd.
(3) Avorgbedor, D. (2009). Public enemy, or, sensing censorship:musical performance and semiotic disobedience. Research in African Literatures, 40(3), 221-233.
(4)Murdered for music. (2009). News Internationalist. Issue 421, p11-11.
Africa
Zimbabwea
Thomas Mapfumo, the most popular artist in Zimbabwean music for the past 20 years, has been forced to move to the United States after bans and death threats followed his criticism of prime minister Robert Mugabe.(2)
Sam Muraya, Franco Luambo Makiadi, Thomas Mapfumo, and Oliver Mtukudzi are amoung musicians that have been banned in Africa. (3)
to read more about censorship in Africa click here
Middle East
Pakistan
In Province, Pashto singer, Sardar Yousafzai and 11 members of his orchastra were ambushed and shot by an armed group. The group was part the Taliban's violent campaign against musical expression. (4)
Palestine
Isreali officials placed restrictions on the free movement of musicians traveling to and from West Bank. (1)
Iran
In 1997 a ban was placed on women so that they could not sing in public. (1)
more about the Middle East here
Asia
Burma
Kham Lait's songs about civil war and homeland struggle. He was made to avoid words such as smoke, guns, and peace in his songs by the PSB (Press Scrutiny Board). (2)
Yemen
Fahd al-Qarni,singer and comedian, faced charges of insulting the president. The reasoning was because al-Qarni's songs mixed folk music with criticism of government policies. (4)
more about Asia here
Europe
Lebanon
Singer Marcel Khalife has been prosecuted twice for blasphemy after he turned verses from the Koran into music. (1)
Turkey
Koma Asmin, an all female group, was recently tried for singing the Kurdish anthem by the Istanbul State Security Court. The anthem has been banned for sixty years. (1)
Bulent Ersoy, a transexual singer, was charged with “turning the public against military service." The reasoning was because of remarks on tv saying that if she had a son she would not send him to the war. (4)
more about Europe here
Latin America
Mexico
The popular ballads known as narcocorridos are censored because they glorify drug bandits.(2)
Cuba
Carlos Calafell, director of radio station Nueva Gerona, was fired for playing a rap song that was considered critical of Fidel Castro's regime.
Gorki Luis Aguila Carrasco, from the punk group Porno Par Ricardo, was sentenced to four years in prison. Carrasco was charged for drug trafficking without evidence.(2)
more about Latin America here
Watch videos of artists from different countries talk about music censorship here.
Other Pages
Music Censorship Home
U.S. Music Censorship Timeline
FCC and Clear Channel
References
(1) Williamson, N. (2004). Banned!. Billboard, 116(21), 1-60.
(2) Korpe, M. (2004). Shoot the singer!. New York, NY: Zed Books Ltd.
(3) Avorgbedor, D. (2009). Public enemy, or, sensing censorship:musical performance and semiotic disobedience. Research in African Literatures, 40(3), 221-233.
(4)Murdered for music. (2009). News Internationalist. Issue 421, p11-11.