By Rasheed Abubakar
* Entertainment industry remains silent, unconcerned despite global influence
If there is one thing Israel seems to have lost in the nearly two-year televised massacre and assault on Gaza, it is the battle for public opinion – and for many observers, that loss is devastating. Global awareness has shifted. From government to private institutions, secular and religious groups, Israel is no longer seen as a victim she has over the years portrayed herself. She is now seen as the criminal, oppressor, murderer, callous genocider that is ruled by leaders who are wanted by the International Criminal Court for Crimes Against Humanity and have flagrantly evaded summons. Israel has murdered in broad daylight over 65,000 Palestinians, including children, women, journalists and health workers.
More damning for Israel, perhaps, is the volume of outspoken campaigners and vociferous pro-Palestinian advocates in the West, especially in the United States – its long-time unshakeable ally, financier, and backer in all realms of power: weapons, money, diplomacy. These advocates are not only outspoken, they damned Israeli wicked killing machines – the MOSSAD and AIPAC.
In cities across America, from college campuses to liberal bastions, young people have risen in protests, marching, organising, donating, speaking up against the 23-month genocide despite the brutal crackdowns by the so-called largest democracy in the world. What used to be a fringe concern has become persistent, with loud demands: “End the Genocide, Allow Humanitarian Aid, Lift Gaza Siege, and so on” with global call for the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, who has violated all known global conventional regulations, international laws and UN resolutions, in not only Gaza, the West Bank, but also in virtually all countries in the region.
Hollywood and Entertainment World
Interestingly, many prominent global celebrities in the entertainment industry have also answered the call. Although, previously cautious or silent, they have begun to risk backlash, career consequences, or loss of brand deals to publicly condemn the Gaza genocide, demanding ceasefire, and showing solidarity with the Palestinians, at different fora, concerts even football tournaments.
Stars like Susan Sarandon, Cynthia Nixon and David Clennon were among the first to voice support for Palestine, barely three months after Israel began the bombardment of Gaza and applying cruel collective punishment, killing indiscriminately the Palestinians in Gaza and starving children, women and the aged to death. Israel bombs hospitals gleefully and denies the sick on life-support the needed treatment. Israel doesn’t only ban UNRWA, it weaponises humanitarian aid and kills starving people who are struggling to survive with paltry humanitarian aid that Israel grudgingly allows into Gaza.
Clennon – an Emmy-winning actor, has been a longtime supporter of Palestinian rights. In fact, long before the beginning of the genocide in October 2023, he has always defended the right of Palestinians to exit. In 2019, he declined audition for Netflix series with Israeli producers, citing solidarity with Palestinian people!
Countless Hollywood actors later joined solidarity with Palestine including Angelina Jolie, Oscar-winning US actress, filmmaker and former envoy to UNHCR, who slammed Israel’s ‘deliberate bombing’ of ‘children, women, families’ who are ‘being deprived of food, medicine and humanitarian aid against international law.
During the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in France, many celebrities including Indian actress Kani Kusruti, Italian actress Jasmine Trinca, Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir, amongst others expressed solidarity with Palestine, using the Palestinian flag and watermelon motifs on their attire. In fact, the Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, who attended the festival, became a trending topic on social media with her outfit reminiscent of the Palestinian flag.
It’s also interesting to note that more than 1,300 artists, including some Hollywood A-listers, such as Ayo Edebiri, Riz Ahmed, Tilda Swinton, Mark Ruffalo, known for his iconic character as Hulk many Marvel Comics superhero films pledged not to work with Israeli film institutions complicit in abuses against Palestinians.
Sports Industry
Players in sports, especially the football world, are not left out in showing overwhelming support with Palestine against Israeli genocide in Gaza and brutality in other areas of Palestine, despite limitations and restrictions imposed by their respective authorities. Palestinian flags have been waved at different football tournaments with many footballers including Manchester United legend and former French footballer Eric Cantona calling on football’s governing bodies to take action against Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, calling on FIFA and UEFA to ban the country from the World Cup and Israeli clubs from European leagues.
Muslim News gathered that more than 800 athletes have been killed in Gaza since the start of Israel’s offensive on October 7, 2023. The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said among the victims were 421 footballers, including Suleiman al-Obaid, popularly known as Palestinian Pele, who once played for the National Team.
His death, among others, triggered strong condemnations from the global sports icon including Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah who criticised a UEFA tribute to the late Suleiman al-Obeid, after European football’s governing body failed to reference the circumstances surrounding his killing.
Notable sportsmen such as Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula One champion; Kyrie Irving, eight-time NBA All-Star; Karim Benzema, veteran France striker who won the 2022 men’s Ballon d’Or Award, among others have shown their support for Palestine, calling for end to Gaza Genocide! Many Turkish football clubs such as Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Galatasaray and Istanbul Basaksehir, among other football fans have cheered and waved Palestinian flags to show solidarity with Palestine ahead of games in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Conference League.
The list of supporters of Palestine in the entertainment world is endless, but the mind-boggling question that comes to mind is, where are the African celebrities in sports, movies, music industry? Why the defeaning silence?
Findings show that Moroccan footballers such as Hakim Ziyech, who plays for Galatasaray; Noussair Mazraoui of Bayern Munich; Mohamed Elneny, Egyptian midfielder for Arsenal, together with Mohamed Salah, have shown support for Palestinians and called for immediate ceasefire.
While there is no evidence of any South African footballer who have condemned Israeli genocide, a popular music band in the Mandela country, The Mavrix, partnered with African Artists Against Apartheid, to release a song and video called ‘The Ghost Who Weeps’ in solidarity with Palestine and against the genocide in Gaza.
Apart from that, South Africa has been a staunch advocate for Palestinian Statehood, consistently demonstrating its support through various diplomatic efforts. In December 2023, it filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of “genocidal acts” in Gaza. That case charges Israel with violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention – Crimes Against Humanity, depriving civilians of life, preventing the provision of humanitarian aid, and causing bodily as well as mental harm.
Whither Nigeria, the Giant of Africa? Where does it stand?
Nigeria, with its vast population, its huge youth demography, its booming entertainment industry that has produced global superstars and Grammy Awards winning musicians such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, among others. But in debates around Gaza, Nigeria has been conspicuously quieter than many had expected, particularly among the filmmakers and athletes especially in the round leather game.
Just a few days ago, top artistes, activists, and performers united at the “Together for Palestine” charity concert in London’s Wembley Arena, raising £1.6 million to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza. This is the same Arena where Nigerian megastars Davido and Wizkid have headlined sold-out shows, and Burna Boy too, during his African Giant tour. Performing in a venue that has recently become a site of global solidarity for Palestine should make them even more aware of the significance of speaking up against oppression and the moral expectation on artistes of their stature to use their platforms.
For Wizkid, silence might be explained by his apolitical reputation as he rarely interferes in political debates at home. Davido, however, cannot be seen as politically detached, with his open involvement in local politics through his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, and his frequent alignment with politicians. It is therefore difficult to imagine that he is oblivious to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, and his silence feels more like a choice than ignorance. Both Davido and Wizkid wield enormous influence, and a statement from either of them would surely resonate globally.
The uncanny silence of Nigerian celebrities is particularly confounding, striking and troubling when compared to the outspokeness and pivotal stance of their counterparts globally. For some Nigerians, the Palestinian issue is viewed primarily through religious lens, but for the larger society across the world, it is far beyond religion, it is about humanity, it’s about human rights. That is why people of different faiths, and in fact, those with no religious affiliation, have spoken up boldly in defense of Palestinians’ right to statehood and right of existence. They understand that it is not about creed but about humanity, justice, and compassion. If others, without the same religious motivations and primordial sentiments could recognize the urgency of the Palestinian cause, then surely Nigerians, who proudly identify as God-fearing people, should not be aloof.
Silence in Nollywood
Silence within the Nollywood, is not only deafening but intriguing. If we accept without conceding that the incredible silence about the Palestinian issue is dictated by religious sentiment, how then do we explain the quietness and troubling silence among Muslim actors such as Lateef Adedimeji, Femi Adebayo, Ibrahim Chatta, Ali Nuhu and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, all of who command millions of followers and wield enormous cultural influence. Yet, they have so far been absent in lending their voices to the plight of Palestinians. How do we explain this phenomenon? Could it have been lack of awareness, ignorance, ineptitude or deliberate action? Their platforms are powerful tools for raising awareness and mobilizing empathy, and their reluctance to speak surely diminishes Nigeria’s moral presence at the global stage of humanitarian struggle where silence can only be seen as complicity. To claim lack of awareness in this instance is in itself criminal.
A similar attitude plays out among the soccer players. Nigerian Striker, Victor Osimhen, is indeed adored by Turkish fans, particularly those of Galatasaray, the club he currently plays for. Even without being an expert on Palestinian politics, the environment he operates in should necessarily raise his awareness about the Palestinian struggle. So what is amiss?
Given that Galatasaray is rooted in a pro-Palestinian environment, where over 90% of the population supports the cause, it’s expected of Osimhen to gain a deeper understanding of the issue and consider using his platform to defend the oppressed Palestinians.
However, a glimmer of hope can still be seen. There have been a few voices on the horizon. Seun Kuti, the son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti did not disappoint his father and his fans, as he has used his platform to draw analogies between Israel’s blockade of Gaza and challenges faced at home. Likewise Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian novelist and writer has also condemned the global silence over Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza, urging the world to consider the full history behind the conflict.
In spite of this development, Nigeria as a country has consistently called for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with previous governments including the late President Muhammadu Buhari, expressing support for Palestinian Statehood at UNGA and at different fora. The current Tinubu-led government has also shown solidarity with Palestine, seeking an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and throwing its support to a two-state solution where Palestinian statehood is guaranteed. This was a categorical statement at the Saudi-Arabia summit.
Unfortunately, the near-complete silence over the arrest of the leader of the Palestinian community in Nigeria, despite protests, just immediately after enhanced bilateral security cooperation between Nigeria and Israel, has largely cast doubt over Nigeria’s commitment to the two-state solution regarding the crisis.
Many Nigerians have however criticised the government over her diplomatic romance with Israel on counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing, calling it a dangerous trend and insensitive to the plight of the Palestinians. They argued and wondered why Nigeria would take such unwise decision at a time when most countries of the world are severing ties with Israel over multiple massacres and genocide in Gaza. They wonder why Africa’s Big Brother refused to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Several factors might be responsible for why Nigeria and its celebrities are keeping criminal silence on the Gaza genocide even as some are ignorantly cheering the Israeli forces for massacring over 65,000 for over 23 months. Reasons might include lack of awareness or understanding of international politics. Simply put, ignorance.
Many Nigerians and celebrities alike are not deeply familiar with the legal, historical, or political dimensions of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The nuances: what counts legally as genocide, what are obligations under international laws, what the blockade means in practical terms. Without this knowledge, it is difficult to speak with confidence or moral clarity.
• Religious and identity assumptions: many Nigerians often ignorantly couldn’t distinguish between the Biblical Israelis and Christianity or Judeo-Christian identity, while Hamas is often reduced to the labelled “terrorist” group without understanding the basis of its creation, the composition of Palestinian population, their displacements and sufferings. This muddy judgment do make celebrities reluctant to criticise Israel for fear of disrespecting religion, or for appearing to support “terrorists.”
• Fear of backlash on social media, brand, followers: In our digital age, standing up means risk. Influencers, musicians, actors fear losing followers, endorsements, or being “cancelled” in artistic or commercial terms with many sponsors, entertainment promoters being pro-Zionist. For some, the trade seems too steep: moral clarity vs economic security.
• Corporate or international allegiance: Many Nigerian celebrities or public figures work with global brands, sponsors, or foreign markets. Some of these stakeholders are sensitive to optics about Israel, or are pro-Israel themselves. The unspoken calculus: “Will speaking up damage business?” Or: “Is staying neutral safer?”
* By: Rasheed Abubakar, Publisher, MUSLIM NEWS NIGERIA
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