Photo from Artists Against Apartheid III in Montreal from photojournalist Ion Etxebarria.

Photos documenting the 3rd edition of Artists Against Apartheid in Montreal that brought together multiple artists, musicians, poets and performers as part of the global campaign struggling for Palestinian human rights through an international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions on the Israeli government.

Artists Against Apartheid III attracted upwards of two-hundred people in Montreal to a lively concert crossing multiple musical styles from Jazz, to hip-hop, to folk. A cultural element to this international boycott campaign is growing in Montreal and internationally. This latest event in Montreal featured multiple musicians and artists from the celebrated hip-hop group Nomadic Massive and the roots, improvisational African Diaspora-driven Kalmunity Vibe Collective.

Artists Against Apartheid III marked the 60th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel in Arab lands in 1948 was a catastrophe of enormous proportions, unleashing a colonial project of destruction and displacement which continues unabated to this day. It involved the leveling of villages, and the displacement of some 750 000 Palestinians from their homeland.

In tune with the international campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel, this event drew direct parallels between the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and the current struggle against Israeli apartheid in Palestine, on which Nelson Mandela declared; “our freedom in South Africa is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Zibz Black Current, lyricist, percussionist and community educator with the Kalmunity Vibe Collective puts forward a vocal presence at La Sala Rossa in Montreal.

Vocalist Joel “Jahnice” Janis (left), Zibz Black Current (center) and Jason “Blackbird” Selman (left), kneel down at Artists Against Apartheid III at La Sala Rossa in Montreal admits a performance from members of the Kalmunity Vibe Collective.

Members from the celebrated Montreal hip-hop group Nomadic Massive perform at Artists Against Apartheid III in Montreal, Waahli aka Wyzah (left), Lou Piensa (center) and Butta Beats (right), take the stage at La Sala Rossa at with upwards of two-hundred people in attendance.

Nomadic Massive performs at Artists Against Apartheid, Butta Beats (left), Waahli aka Wyzah (center) and Lou Piensa (left) bring the audience a conscience hip-hop performance that is key to the groups growing following in Montreal and internationally.

Kalmunity Vibe Collective on stage at La Sala Rossa for a second set at Artists Against Apartheid III, Moahmed Mehdi on guitar (left), Karl Pricot on percussion (second left), Fabrice Koffy on vocals (center), Martin on contra-bass (second right) and Jason “Blackbird” Selman on trumpet (first right). Kalmunity Vibe Collective is one of Montreal’s most celebrated conscience musical acts bring rhythms spanning the continents to the nights of Montreal.

23 (Tu-Three) a Muslim-American hip-hop artists addresses through beats and rhymes struggles for social justice from inside the walls of fortress North America. Recently 23 (Tu-Three) released an album with Abdelkader Belouni, an Algerian refugee living in sanctuary at St. Gabriel’s Church in Point St. Charles, who has engaged in a protracted struggle for status from the Canadian government making headlines throughout the local press and throughout the world.

Vocalist Joel “Jahnice” Janis (left) backs up the Somali vocals of Empress Deeqa on the right.

Vocalist Joel “Jahnice” Janis a Haïtian performer from the Kalmunity Vibe Collective raises a sign of solidarity at Artists Against Apartheid III at La Sala Rossa in Montreal.

Members of Kalmunity Vibe Collective close the evening in unity at La Sala Rossa, Mohamed Mehdi (left), Karl Pricot (center) and Jason Selman (right). In Montreal Kalmunity Vibe Collective performs every Tuesday evening at Sablo Café.