Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi’s Visa Issues Threaten Festival Sets

Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi has been denied a visa to perform at two major Australian music festivals this weekend – Pitch in Victoria and WOMADelaide in South Australia – despite, according to festival organizers, submitting all required documentation. The cancellations underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinian artists navigating international travel and highlight a recent lobbying effort to prevent her performance at WOMADelaide.

Pitch festival announced the news via Instagram, stating that despite their team’s efforts, Abdulhadi’s visa application had not been approved by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. WOMADelaide echoed this sentiment, adding that the cancellation was part of a larger wave of disruptions stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, impacting several international acts.

Abdulhadi, who gained international recognition after a Boiler Room set filmed in Ramallah in 2018 went viral with over 14 million views on YouTube, is known as the “queen of the Palestinian techno scene.” Her rise to prominence has been coupled with activism, establishing the Union Collective in Ramallah as a platform for Palestinian DJs and producers. She has performed at major festivals globally, including Tomorrowland, Coachella, Glastonbury, and Fusion.

The visa denial comes after reports surfaced in January of a campaign to have Abdulhadi removed from the WOMADelaide lineup. Organizers publicly defended their decision to include her, stating that her participation reflected the festival’s commitment to showcasing artists of exceptional talent from diverse backgrounds. “Sama Abdulhadi is internationally recognised as a pioneering female electronic music artist and cultural innovator, and she performs at festivals and music events around the world,” a statement from WOMADelaide read, as reported by InSADaily.

Abdulhadi’s journey to international recognition has been shaped by the political realities of being Palestinian. Born in Jordan to parents deported from Palestine, she returned to Ramallah with her family in 1993. She has spoken extensively about the difficulties Palestinians face with freedom of movement, explaining in an interview with Trippin that she was only initially invited to perform at Arab and Palestinian festivals. She obtained residency in Paris, which she credits with enabling her to tour internationally.

“Travelling and freedom of movement for Palestinians is impossible,” Abdulhadi told Trippin. “Then, I applied for a residency in Paris, and I got accepted, but when I came here to acquire my residency card, they gave me three years instead of three months, and so I just stayed. This represents the only reason I can tour because I’m coming from France, not Palestine.”

Abdulhadi’s career hasn’t been without controversy. In 2020, a performance at the Nabi Musa mosque and events space in Palestine was disrupted by religious protestors, leading to her arrest on charges of desecrating a religious site. Her court date has been repeatedly postponed. She was likewise scheduled to curate part of the Palestine Music Expo in 2022, but the event was cancelled due to political instability.

Beyond her DJing and production work, Abdulhadi actively supports the Palestinian arts community. She founded Union Collective to provide a safe space and incubator for Palestinian DJs, producers, and creatives. She has also raised funds for Lebanon through the Bring Back Beirut initiative.

The Department of Home Affairs in Australia has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded. The cancellations of Abdulhadi’s performances add to a growing list of disruptions at both Pitch and WOMADelaide, caused by travel issues related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Other artists affected include Alfio Antico & Proceed Dugong, Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, Bhutan Balladeers, and Stan’s Café Theatre Company.

Abdulhadi and WOMADelaide have been contacted for further comment.