Nene H and UMAY curate Gaza fundraising compilation, ‘Letters to a Future Palestine’

Nene H has curated a new Gaza fundraising compilation, ‘Letters to a Future Palestine’. 

The 19 track album features 23 artists from across the world, including numerous collaborations between Palestinian musicians and others from Lebanon, Egypt, Ghana, Kurdistan, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Armenia, Turkey and Tanzania.

rRoxymore, Alinka, Hassan Abou Alam, SPL, Kareem El Moor, Big Murk, Mohajer, Sarv, Monixa, Sami Zreik, Haya, and FATUMA are among those featured on the project. 

The release lands on 10th July through UMAY, Nene H’s “venturesome platform” for emerging artists, “aiming to build bridges and empower local culture, and give visibility to underrepresented regions and artists with a strong focus on South, Western and Central Asia”. The label was founded in 2023. 

You can listen to ‘Tefla’, by Palestinian producer KETTALYNE and Ghana-born, UK-raised, Berlin-Based Yazzus, below. 

“This diverse representation showcases a shared vision and collective strength. The theme of our compilation, ‘Letters to a Future Palestine’, is a manifestation of a self-determined future where a free Palestine thrives,” said Nene H. “It is a powerful statement against the portrayal of oppression as the sole narrative. Through this project, we dream beyond the current reality and work towards making this vision our own reality.”

Antoher statement issued alongside the release reads: “We, Palestinian artists, find it crucial in these times of despair, when our people in Gaza are facing the greatest tragedy, to keep voicing the uncompromising vision of freedom through the medium of music. This project serves as a postcard from a future Palestine we aspire to.

“Our vision doesn’t arise from nowhere; it aims to reconnect with the cultural renaissance Palestine was developing before its course was disrupted,” it continues. “This vision draws a bridge — linking that almost forgotten renaissance, bridging the gap of the past century, and facilitating a shift of mind towards a new era of self-realisation.” 

Artwork for the collection was created by ‘guerilla Junglist’ and visual artist Rimbawan Gerilya, and uses the colours of the Palestinian flag depicting a woman in Tatreez dress surrounded by various symbols.

News of the release comes shortly after the online premiere of a new documentary exploring the underground club scene in Istanbul. This featured the Sirän collective, co-founded by Nene H and Y.unan. 

Earlier this week, Shanti Celeste dropped a new single, ‘SLB’, with proceeds going to Operation Olive Branch. The grassroots collective amplifies Palestinian voices and supports critical needs in Gaza. 

In May, Nicolás Jaar, Suzanne Ciani and KMRU were included on ‘ENOUGH!‘, a 62-track compilation put together by Amman, Jordan-based DJ and curator Mayss. This followed ‘Moss On A Stone‘, a mutual aid release raising €35,000 to help a Palestinian family evacuate, with Sepehr, JakoJako, Zvrra, Banu, Chatz and Konx-om-Pax involved.