Anti-racism concert coming to London

LONDON, July 4 (UPI) -- World music fans can catch a concert and speak against racism at the free Rise: London United Against Racism festival sponsored by the London mayor's office.

The daylong event at Finsbury Park July 15 is being billed as family-friendly. It will feature music and performances from cultures from around the world that have influenced London life, Mayor Ken Livingstone said Wednesday in a news release.

Among acts scheduled to perform are DAM, a Palestine rap band; Koma Sersi, a Kurdish band from Turkey; Abdullah Chadehh, an Arabic zither player; Mecca2Medina, Britain's first Muslim hip-hop and reggae group; and U-Cef, a composer who fuses his native Moroccan sounds with hip-hop.

"London's success depends on the international character of our city and London's fortunes are tied up with our stand against racism and prejudice," said Livingstone, who organized the event with the National Assembly Against Racism and TUC South East Region. "Fighting racism is a daily fight and a political priority for our city, and the Rise: London United festival is a clear statement of that fact."

The Rise festival also will sponsor a stage July 14 at the free Dagenham Town Show, another day of world music performances.