Memorial concert dedicated to the April 9 tragedy

People gathered at the Tbilisi Concert Hall paid their respect to the victims of the Soviet Army violence. The evening was opened by Jemal Sepiashvili, the author of the music for the song “Give Tulips To One Another” (text by Moris Potskhishvili) that was recorded 30 years ago in honor of 21 people killed during the April 9 tragedy in 1989, 17 of whom were women.

Sepiashvili introduced the performers that originally recorded the song. Amongst whom were renowned Georgian singers, such as Tamar Gverdtsiteli, Nani Bregvadze, Medea Dzidziguri, Buba Kikabidze, Eka Kakhiani, Eka Kvaliashvili, Irma Sokhadze, Roma Rtskhiladze, Maia Jabua, Tamar Chokhonelidze, and others.

Before the new version of “Give Tulips To One Another” was presented at the end of the concert, the artists performed numerous famous Georgian songs.

Several weeks ago, when the event and the new version of “Give Tulips To One Another” were announced with all-male assemble, Jemal Sepashvili faced a backlash from the public. Many people criticized the controversial choice of only including men in the new version of the song. Especially, considering that, on April 9th most of the victims, who fell dead, were young women.

The concert was supposed to air live on Georgian Public Broadcaster (GBP). But, after the controversy surrounding the song, this decision was reversed and the GBP only recorded the concert to save in the archive, without airing it. The decision came after the new version of the song was criticized for excluding women.

“I believe that the strength of the family is the man, the strength of the country lies within men, the protector of the nation is the man and because of that, these 25 men will perform the song” – this is the sexist statement that Jemal Sepiashvili made to support his misogynistic decision.

30 years ago on Rustaveli Avenue, a peaceful demonstration demanding Georgia’s independence was brutally dispersed by the Soviet Army. Amongst the killed people, the youngest, Eka Bezhanishvili and Tamar Chovelidze were only 16. People who were present during the bloodshed, afterwards remembered that the troops were exceptionally cruel towards pregnant women and old people.

Many people expected that organizers of the concert would take into consideration the people’s response to the new recording and would change the assemble to also include women, but at the end of the concert, the audience nevertheless listened to the song that became an anthem of freedom for Georgians performed exclusively by men.

The systematic exclusion of women from such important events shows a deep-rooted problem that lies within the toxic patriarchal thinking that, despite gaining freedom from the Soviet Union 30 years ago, Georgian men still can’t get free from.