Labi Siffre Issues Cease and Desist to Tommy Robinson Over Use of Anti-Apartheid Anthem

Labi Siffre, the British singer and songwriter, has demanded that far-right activist Tommy Robinson stop using his iconic song ‘(Something Inside) So Strong’ after it was featured at Robinson’s recent rally in London. The song, which was originally released in 1987 and became a global anthem against apartheid, holds significant cultural and personal meaning for Siffre, who is openly gay, Black, and an atheist. Robinson, whose far-right views are in stark contrast to Siffre’s values, used the track at a rally attended by over 100,000 people, leading Siffre to issue a cease and desist order. The musician expressed disbelief over the situation, emphasizing how absurd it is for a song with his personal and political history to be co-opted by a movement he strongly opposes. Siffre also revealed that Robinson’s supporters have thanked him for allegedly supporting their cause, although Siffre refused to engage. The track, inspired by Siffre’s own struggles and his reaction to apartheid in South Africa, continues to resonate with people fighting various forms of oppression. Siffre has long been outspoken about his opposition to far-right politics and is the latest in a series of musicians to challenge the unauthorized use of their work by political groups.