Rap Musicians Censored in Gaza
As rap music grows in popularity, rap musicians face increasing censorship, writes Asmaa al-Ghoul.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Mohammad Antar is a 26-year-old rapper. For over a year, Mohammed has been practicing the songs he has written in front of the mirror. He will be lucky if he even gets a chance to perform them during an "underground" concert, with only his friends as the audience.
However, 15 months have passed since he last performed on a stage or before an audience.
Antar told Al-Monitor, "We are required to obtain permits from the ministries of interior and culture and the police in order to be able to hold a rap concert on any stage or theater. It is impossible to hold concerts without a permit.
"I spent hours in front of the mirror, singing, dancing and recalling the memories of my concerts in Europe in the summer of 2010, where I performed in many European cities. However, I could not perform in Gaza."
