Ronnie Drew and Mary Black will not perform in South Africa until apartheid is fully dismantled.
From his seat in 'The Late Late Show' audience, singer with folk group The Dubliners Ronnie Drew adds his opinion to a debate on apartheid.
Many Irish musicians and entertainers have voiced their opposition to apartheid by taking a pledge, promising not to perform in South Africa until apartheid is fully dismantled. The Dubliners were asked to play in South Africa in 1969 or 1970, and they
Just refused out of hand to go because we knew the situation there.
Ronnie Drew thinks it is important for performers to take this stance because they are often more influential than politicians.
Irish folk duo Foster and Allen have been criticised for their past visits to South Africa. While they have no plans to take in South Africa on their next tour, they feel they are being intimidated into taking the pledge.
Ronnie Drew dismisses their argument,
If you go there, and you are backing up the system when you go.
Foster and Allen have the right to earn a living from their music but,
The principle of the thing is I wouldn't go, no matter for what amount of money.
Ronnie Drew thinks musicians have a lot to offer by not going to South Africa.
Also in the audience is singer Mary Black. She signed the pledge because she was appalled by the news reports detailing the injustice in South Africa,
I felt very strongly about it.
She does not want to entertain anyone involved in the apartheid regime.
The episode of 'Late Late Extra' was broadcast on 12 January 1986. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
