A rapper says he is unable to perform at a Welsh festival – because there’s too much English in his songs.
Sage Todz will not be performing at the National Eisteddfod – located in his hometown – because of its Welsh language policy.
The bilingual artist said his tunes were “finished products, not subject to change.”
The National Eisteddfod said the rule about the Welsh language was “fundamental” to the festival.
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Sage Todz said: “For anyone wondering, I won’t be performing at Eisteddfod this year due to the Welsh language policy they have in place.
“Essentially there’s too much English in my songs.”
In a follow up tweet he said: “I’m not protesting, simply letting people know why I won’t be there.
“My songs are finished products, not subject to change.”
A festival spokesperson said: “We discussed our language rule at length with Sage Todz.
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“And we respect the fact that he is a bilingual artist, and that his decision was to adhere to his principles and continue to create bilingual and English music.”
Welsh is the official language of the Eisteddfod.
Its general rules and language policy states “all creative works and competitions must be in Welsh except where noted otherwise for a particular competition.”
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He worked with the Football Association of Wales ahead of Wales’ campaign at the Qatar World Cup to remake a Welsh protest song, Yma o Hyd.
Fans have hit out at the decision.
Priya Hall said: “This makes absolutely no sense.
“You attract so many people to the language and this is a crazy decision.”
Megan Tomos said: “You’ve done more for the Welsh language than a lot of other people recently.
“Absolute backwards decision from them I’m so disappointed.”
Dan Evans added: “I recently went to the Urdd Eisteddfod and felt incredibly unwelcome as a Welsh learne.
“There was very little support for non fluent welsh speakers.
“The discrimination and stubbornness will only drive people away from the Welsh language.”
Emyr Wyn Jones said: “I understand people’s position about tradition but the traditions need to move on too.
“Music has so much power, this is a great loss to attract more attention from people who want or are looking for a way into the language and the movement.”
Another fan added: “Painfully short-sighted from the festival organisers.
“You’ve done so much to help legitimise welsh-language music that isn’t jangly guitar indie angst but apparently celebrating the depth and breadth of Welsh music is just lip service to them.”
It takes place in August in Boduan, Gwynedd.
In 1996, Super Furry Animals were booked to play the National Eisteddfod in Llandeilo after releasing their debut album, Fuzzy Logic.
The band printed the English lyrics and handed them to the audience whilst they whistled their songs from the stage.
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