A Mandarin protest anthem titled “It’s My Duty,” created by singer-songwriter Yinfi and released from London, has been blocked by Chinese censors. The song pays tribute to political activists, protesters, and dissidents who have fought for freedom and democracy in China, including in regions like Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and during last year’s “white paper” protests. This news was reported by RFA on December 7, 2023.
Yinfi, a film music student, crafted the song’s lyrics to reflect a list of ‘forbidden words’ often censored by the Chinese Communist Party to limit public knowledge of the darker aspects of its recent history. The lyrics poetically reference various significant events and struggles: “We are the orphans in the square.
We are the new shoots after the wildfire,” referring to protests and their aftermath. The song also makes allusions to recent transportation disasters and the Urumqi fire, which sparked mass protests across China in November 2022.
The song’s title is inspired by a young man’s response to a journalist during the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989, embodying a spirit of duty towards social and political activism. Yinfi’s anthem goes further, addressing the plight of displaced Hong Kong people and the loss of freedom experienced by the Uyghurs.
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In his statement on YouTube, Yinfi expressed that the song was deeply influenced by a speech delivered by a Chinese student at Columbia University, following the “white paper” protests. He hopes that his song will help keep alive the memories of those who have been silenced and fought for freedom in China.
Despite its significance, the song was removed from NetEase Cloud Music within a week of its release and was never published on other Chinese music platforms.
Yinfi acknowledged the inevitability of this censorship, especially given the sensitive nature of the names and topics mentioned in his song, including references to prominent figures like Liu Xiaobo, Jimmy Lai, Joshua Wong, and others involved in pro-democracy activities.
Yinfi’s work represents a poignant effort to keep alive the stories and voices of those who have stood up against suppression in China, despite the challenges posed by censorship and the ‘parallel reality’ of life within the country. His song serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of dissent and the pursuit of freedom, even in the face of formidable obstacles.
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