Orchestra is facing backlash after allegedly refusing to play the National Anthem following the Queen’s death back in September.
The UK, together with others parts of the world, plunged into mourning after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing on September 8.
While the National Anthem was played across the nation in a tribute to the longest-reigning British monarch in history, the Chineke! Orchestra – a British orchestra made up mainly of musicians from minorities – refused to play God Save The King.
According to the reports, Chi-chi Nwanoku, the orchestra’s founder and director, ordered members of the orchestra not to perform the song during their concert at Lucerne Festival in Switzerland even though it took place during the mourning period.
Nwanoku, who previously received CBE – the highest-ranking Order of the British Empire award – told fellow musicians that the anthem represented an empire “entirely built on racism and the plundering of Africa.”
“The Chineke! Orchestra is full of musicians who are not from the UK and many who are the direct result of their ancestors being enslaved. We will not be playing the National Anthem in Lucerne,” she wrote in her e-mail to members of the orchestra.
After the decision was scrutinized by members who wanted to “do something” for the late monarch, Nwanoku doubled down on her decision saying:
“Many in the orchestra were incredibly upset about being made to do that, with the reason being that the Empire is virtually entirely built on racism and the plundering of Africa.”
In another mail, she added: “I would be extremely uncomfortable imposing it on people who a) are not British and b) who are not nationalistic and c) the list goes on. It does not mean we are not sad that the Queen has died.”
As one insider claimed, the majority of orchestra members wanted to perform the anthem despite their boss’s orders.
“Chi-chi was adamant that the anthem represents a British Empire which was a racist institution, and which was responsible for the persecution of many of the ancestors of the players in the orchestra,” the source said.
“Some members of the orchestra actually agreed with her because they too had concerns about some of the anthem’s lyrics. But I think it’s fair to say the majority of the orchestra wanted to do something for the Queen.
“Some members preferred the idea of a minute’s silence. They wanted something to be done but in the end, nothing was done.”
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