Sławek Gortych sharply criticizes Bregović’s concert in Bolesławiec: “I am ashamed”

Goran Bregović performed on Saturday, August 22, during the Bolesławiec Ceramic Festival. His concert was one of the most important musical highlights of this year’s program.

On Sunday, Sławek Gortych spoke out on the matter. He is the author of a bestselling crime series set in the Karkonosze Mountains, grew up in Bolesławiec and has repeatedly emphasized his ties to the city.

“I have to speak out, or I’ll suffocate,” he began his lengthy post.

The writer recalled that he grew up in Bolesławiec and became interested in the history of Lower Silesia there. As he wrote, he has always spoken with pride about the city, its history and Bolesławiec ceramics.

In his post, Gortych also referred to the 80th anniversary of the arrival of Polish settlers in Bolesławiec. He mentioned his great-grandparents, who in 1946 came to Lower Silesia from the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

Against this background, he was highly critical of the choice of Goran Bregović as one of the stars of the Ceramic Festival.

“God, I am so ashamed! I have no words,” he wrote.

The controversies surrounding Bregović are not new. In 2015, the artist performed in Sevastopol, in Crimea occupied by Russia. After that concert, the organizers of the Life Festival Oświęcim canceled his planned performance, stating that his conduct and statements were contrary to the festival’s idea. In subsequent years, Bregović also had problems entering some countries, including Moldova and Latvia.

The musician himself rejected accusations of supporting Russian aggression and emphasized that, as a man from war-torn Sarajevo, he did not support war or aggression.

Not only Bregović: controversy also surrounds Bogusław Nowak

This year’s Ceramic Festival had already sparked discussion concerning the people entrusted with prominent roles during the event.

Istotne.pl described public posts published on the profile of Bogusław Nowak, who was once again involved in events connected with the Ceramic Festival. They included offensive statements concerning, among others, Jews, migrants, LGBT people and politicians. The terms used included “human locusts” for migrants and a call for the “disposal” of Marshal of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty.

The District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra is currently examining some of Nowak’s public statements. The notification was filed by the Open Republic Association. The prosecutor’s office informed istotne.pl that it is conducting preliminary checks under Article 257 of the Criminal Code, concerning the public insult of a group of people or an individual because of their national, ethnic, racial or religious affiliation. The case is being treated as possibly involving a prejudice-motivated crime. At this stage, however, this does not mean that the commission of an offense has been established.

Nowak’s posts were also criticized by parliamentarians from various political groups. KO MP Piotr Borys described some of them as “exceptionally vile,” Left MP Arkadiusz Sikora called the situation “nothing short of a scandal,” while PiS MP Szymon Pogoda condemned the vulgar and offensive statements.

Istotne.pl had already drawn the city authorities’ attention to the matter before last year’s Ceramic Festival. Despite the controversy, Nowak again received a significant role this year during the event organized by the municipal cultural institution BOK-MCC. In this context, this year’s Ceramic Festival therefore brought two separate discussions: about the invitation of Goran Bregović and about the continued involvement of Bogusław Nowak.

Gortych: the anniversary could have been commemorated differently

Sławek Gortych believes that on the 80th anniversary of the arrival of Polish settlers, Bolesławiec had a unique opportunity to showcase its postwar history and multicultural roots.

“There was such a special way to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the arrival of Poles from Yugoslavia, to showcase Bolesławiec’s multicultural character, still little known and understood in Poland. Really, there were a million ways to promote the City and the Festival better,” he wrote.

The author does not hide that he took Bregović’s selection very personally. He recalled the history of his family and the people who rebuilt Bolesławiec practically from scratch after the war.

He ended his post with words addressed to his ancestors:

“Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa, you must be turning in your graves with shame.”