The chilling emails that got Chineke! in hot water
NewsThe Mail on Sunday, acting on information from slippedisc.com, has obtained emails from Chi-chi Nwanoku explaining her refusal to allow her British diversity orchestra Chineke! to play the National Anthem at the Lucerne Festival after the death of Queen Elizabeth.
In one instruction she writes: ‘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.’
And in another: ‘Many in the orchestra were incredibly upset about being made to do that (after the death of Prince Philip), with the reason being that the Empire is virtually entirely built on racism and the plundering of Africa.’
A person close to the musicians said: ‘Some members of the orchestra actually agreed with her…. But I think it’s fair to say the majority of the orchestra wanted to do something for the Queen.’
Nwanoku was not present at the Lucerne Festival because she was attending her daughter’s wedding. But she maintained tight control of its activities after some musicians requested that they acknowledge the Queen’s death. She has refused to comment to us or the Mail. MPs on the select committee for culture are now asking for clarification.
They should also be concerned about the disappearance of an independent investigation into claims of bullying at Chineke! Five directors of the ochestra simultaneously resigned, leaving its supervision in the hands of Nawanoku and two friends, the minimum legal requirement. It has also dispensed with the post of orchestra manager.
Read the full Mail on Sunday article here.
What is it about these emails that is ‘chilling’?
Her racism is chilling.
Don’t be so silly, there is nothing racist about having reservations about the British Empire.
Once a bold and innovative idea, Chineke has descended into a complete and utter farce.
Like the entire BLM movement which has been exposed as a complete scam…..?
I’m rather shocked to see so many racists here, racism has no place in music.
As ever, NL’s research reaches parts that other media don’t. I wasn’t originally aware that her refusal to play the National Anthem was in connection with the Queen’s death; neither did I know that this was done outside this country. (Would she have had the guts to do this in the UK?) I didn’t realise either that her refusal to play the National Anthem was a response to members of her orchestra who had requested that they do so.
This revelation has made me change my mind about Chi-chi. I used to think that she was an utter disgrace. I am now certain that she is.
Despite all this rancorous anti-British drivel, she’s still happy to live in this appalling country, proudly flaunting on her website one of the three Imperial honours that our late Queen awarded her. John Lennon had the integrity to return his MBE when he disapproved of our involvement in the Vietnam war (and other causes). Hosts of other celebrities in various countries have done the same kind of thing. Whether or not we believe that they should have done so, this at least shows a sense of integrity, which Chi-chi clearly lacks.
With that in mind, she has certainly brought this country into disrepute, both in her statements and her conduct, especially on the occasion of the Queen’s death. In cases like this, there is a procedure for the forfiture of honours and anyone can write to the Cabinet Office (honours@cabinetoffice.gov.uk), naming the individual and explaining the reasons for believing that their honour should be forfeited. (For further details, see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/having-honours-taken-away-forfeiture#what-is-the-process-for-forfeiture).
NL says that Chi-chi is already under investigation by the Select Committee for Culture but whatever the outcome I believe that it’s time to start the forfeiture process and anyone can apply for this through the above links.
Will nobody rid Chineke! of this troublesome shrew?
Bravo! You are beacon of sensibility in a mad and dangerous world.
Note that she is now responding enthusiastically to the idea that the King could become patron of her orchestra… could she be having a squeaky bum moment? I anticipate no more trouble from this quarter. (Lol.)
It’s called Borderline Personality Disorder!! Look it up in the DSM.
If Chineke is indeed (as Ms Nwanoku apparently asserts) “full of musicians who are not from the UK”, is it worth noting that they nonetheless qualify for receipt of significant funding from Arts Council England?
“under investigation by the Select Committee”………
Those committee’s powers are very limited. Statements (for they are not testimony) are not Sworn and not subject either to Perjury or Contempt charges (unlike American parliamentary hearings,) and other than contempt of parliament for not appearing (which carries no tariff I am aware of, happy to be corrected,) they really are self important bloviations.
The Charity Commission is the one to be frightened of.
Del Boy, you are an imposter – the real Del Boy would never have used a word like ‘bloviations’ – he might have invented ‘oblivations’ instead…
Seriously though, while you are right about the Select Committee, surely an excoriatory brickbat from them would at least prick the bubble of her arrogance.
Yes, the Charities Commission has overwhelming powers but I am not sure whether having a principal who is unpleasant, hypocritical and unpatriotic would be grounds for striking out the charity. In any case, the orchestra don’t deserve to be wound up or impoverished just through their misfortune of having such a person as their nominal head.
The best riposte to her rantings would be for her to be stripped of her honours from the monarch whose memory she insulted and for our new King to ignore her entirely. After all, how could she bear to luxuriate in the largesse of a monarchial devotee of Sir Hubert Parry, whose setting of ‘Jerusalem’, with reference to ‘England’s green and pleasant land’ is completely discordant with her views of this supposedly scrofulous hell-hole of a country.
You entirely misunderstand both Parry and Blake.
“I am publicly dedicated to punishing all rascist behaviour, except my own.”
The effort here seems inline with the right wing denunciations of athletes that kneel during the US national anthem. The irony gets a bit thick.
It’s vainglorious symbolism. And a trope of religion anyway to be on your knee/s.
The far right both in Britain and abroad feel so chuffed at employing their flagship technique:
Accuse the real victims of racism of being…racist!
Putin does it in Ukraine (Nazis! he cries), the Daily Fail does it here, over and over again (the persecuted white folk oppressed by a reality check on British Empire historical examination).
The culture war is a product of this fact reversal. It serves no one except for those who, like Holocaust revisionists, wish to perpetuate a false narrative of real past persecutions.
If you cheer this bandwagon then yes, you too are racist.
I’m sure Chi-chi will perform some act of reparation or repentance as a result of her Nigerian ancestors likely enslaving people? What is now Nigeria was home to some of the most brutal, racist, slave empires in history, but apparently it’s only Britons that should examine their history.
Wow-if they’ve truly eliminated the post if orchestra manager, then good luck with that!
Perhaps the CBE stands for can’t be enslaved and she accepted it out of sarcasm?
Public funding for a ‘British diversity (sic) orchestra’ that selects it its musicians on a racial basis. This is rewarding musical apartheid. The end result could be all-white orchestras. So much for ‘diversity’.
Chi-Chi is of ‘dual heritage’. Shame she can only embrace 50% of it. People of mixed heritage don’t get much attention from woke society. This could be a new hobby(-horse?) for this woman.