Cecilia (song)

From Censorpedia

Date: 1976 - 1984 [[:Category:|]] [[:Category:|]]

Region: Africa [[:Category:|]] [[:Category:|{location3}]]

Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion [[:Category:|]] [[:Category:|]]

Medium: Music [[:Category:|]] [[:Category:|]]


Artist: Simon and Garfunkel

Confronting Bodies: Malawi Censorship Board

Dates of Action: 1980's?

Location: Malawi

Description of Artwork: The song "Cecilia" by the US recording artists Simon and Garfunkel.

The Incident: "...The reason for the ban is that Cecilia is also the name of President Banda's "Official Hostess" or mistress, Tamanda Kadzamira. The banning apparently coincided with a somewhat rocky phase in their relationship---"Cecilia/I'm down on my knees/ I'm begging you please to come home." Malwians apparently took to singing bowdlerized versions and even humming the tune was guaranteed to raise a smile...."

Results of Incident: "...Ms. Kadzamira has since preferred to be known in public by her middle name of Tamanda...."

Source: Human Rights Watch/Africa Watch, "Where Silence Rules, The Suppression of Dissent in Malawi," October 1990, Pg. 72 [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]]