KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — Artists can play an important role in ensuring that the Palestinian issue remains in the global spotlight by using their influence and platforms to speak out about the reality on the ground.

Palestinian academician and poet Dr Nida Younis said developments involving American rapper Macklemore following his stance on Palestine demonstrated how the actions of a single artist could trigger a much wider response from the international community.

She described the phenomenon as the “Macklemore effect,” likening it to the butterfly effect in which a single action can set off a much larger, far-reaching response.

“It is about courage. It is about standing for human rights and dignity. It is also about telling the whole world that silence is no longer an option,” she said during a recent interview on Bernama TV’s Bernama World programme titled Palestine Beyond The Headlines: Global Solidarity Through Art and Music.

Nida said Macklemore turned the concert stage into a platform to deliver a humanitarian message through his call of “Free Palestine,” sparking a wave of support for Palestine that extended beyond the borders of the United States (US).

She said the controversy following Macklemore’s removal from the remaining US tour dates had also brought greater attention to the Palestinian issue, as other artists and members of the public came forward to express their solidarity.

“Palestine is still remembered. Palestine is not forgotten, and Palestine continues to live in the hearts and minds of people around the world. Everyone is seeing what is happening in Gaza,” she said.

She said artists should not stop speaking out about Palestine and other humanitarian issues. They should convey what they witness and not allow others to dictate narratives that contradict the realities they see.

Nida also recalled British actress and Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave’s support for Palestine in the 1970s, including financing the documentary The Palestinian, despite facing criticism and losing several career opportunities because of her stance.

She said art in its various forms such as music, film, poetry, and literature, has the power to convey humanitarian messages to people around the world.

“When politics and the media fail, poetry, art, and culture will rise and play their role,” she said. — Bernama