WASHINGTON, Sunday, June 2, 2024 (WAFA) – Grammy award-winning American singer and songwriter Kehlani has released a new music video in support of Palestine, and in dedication to the Palestinian children killed by Israel.
Kehlani said that proceeds from the song's related merchandise will go to Palestinian, Congolese and Sudanese families.
The 29-year-old singer, who has been voicing her full support for Gaza and Palestine since October, released on Friday a song titled “Next 2 U” with a Palestine-themed accompanying video. In the music video, she, along with dancers, can be seen waving Palestinian flags while wearing suits adored with the Palestinian keffiyeh.
“As an artist, I was nervous, terrified, worried after losing so much of what I’d valued for an album … paired with the crippling wonder of what music is appropriate to drop during the most historical tragedies of our generation,” the singer said on Instagram.
“I remembered my favorite revolutionary poets, singers, filmmakers. I remembered how much impact we have. I thought about my favorite James Baldwin quotes about the role of an artist in society. I listened to this song enough to recognize a love song is a protector’s song, is revolution,” she added.
The music video opens with an anti-war quote from American-Palestinian poet Hala Alyan that said: “Keep your moon / We have our own / Keep your army / We have our name / Keep your flag / We have fruits and in / All the right colors.”
Kehlani collaborated with Palestinian designer Simsim and the Nol Collective on merchandise related to the song.
“100% of the proceeds are going to be distributed amongst Palestinian, Congolese and Sudanese family through @operationolivebranch (sic),” she wrote on Instagram.
The T-shirts are screen-printed in Ramallah and cut and sewn in Bethlehem, according to the Nol Collective.
Kehlani was one of the first and main international celebrities who took it to her Instagram page to show full support and solidarity with Palestine amidst the ongoing Israeli aggression, posted several stories on Instagram, slamming Israel’s killing of Palestinian children in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
She also posted a video in which she called out other celebrities for remaining silent on what's going in Gaza.
"To my peers and people that are in the spaces I'm in, what the f**k is wrong with y'all?," she said. "You're being silent for the sake of money and business like that amounts to what the f**k is going on. There's an insane amount of unchecked privilege on literal f**king display, and it is gut-wrenching. It is disgusting."
K.T
