Bassey’s S.A. tour offends

Press, 28 October 1981, Page 9

Bassey’s S.A. tour offends

NZPA London Shirley Bassey, the Welshborn black singer, may appear on a United Nations cultural blacklist because she is appearing in South Africa.

The Anti-Apartheid Movement yesterday also named 32 of 70 Welsh singers at present touring South Africa, and threatened to place them on the list.

The register, similar to the sporting blacklist already published, will be made public shortly and those appearing on it may be prevented from visiting non-aligned countries.

James Gbeho, Ghana’s ambassador and chairman of the sub-committee of the United Nations special committee against apartheid, said in London yesterday he regretted that Shirley Bassey was in South Africa, and he hinted that her name may appear on the register. Mr Gbeho said: “We hope governments will take what action they deem fit against these people. “They say we should separate politics from sport and culture. We on the United Nations committee don’t believe in this distinction.

“As long as sport and culture is important to the racist minority Government

of South Africa it must be attacked and co-operation withheld to force that Government to yield in the area of apartheid.” But he said if any individual made a statement saying he would no longer keep contact with South Africa he would be dropped “immediately” from the list. He said the list may include black entertainers because “we do not draw any distinction as to colour.”

The 70 Welsh singers are all using the name of Jones in an attempt to avoid going on the blacklist.

The organisers of the international eisteddfod the choir is attending in Johannesburg originally wanted two Welsh choirs the Cwmback and Rhos Orpheus Male Voice Choirs, but strong opposition from trade unions and anti-apartheid organisations forced them to pull out. Then a wealthy American businessman, Stuart Weaving, who funds foundations dedicated to promoting friendship between the white Commonwealth and the United States, flew from his home in Jersey to Wales and advertised for singers. More than 300 applied, and after top-secret rehearsals in Hertfordshire the final 70 were selected.