Boney M. singer Liz Mitchell outraged by performance at Farage’s Reform UK party

Liz Mitchell says it deeply pains her that Boney M. songs were performed at a conference held by Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s right-populist British party. The former lead singer accused those involved of selling their “soul and heritage for money.”

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It pains me deeply.

A version of Boney M. led by Maizie Williams performed at the party’s event in Birmingham over the weekend. Mitchell, 74, said the performers knew they had been invited so the group’s songs could be used for party purposes, even though the music means so much to people around the world.

Williams’ manager, Donavon Nelson, rejected any political connection to Reform UK. He said the group did not support any party and did not get involved in politics. The performance had initially been presented as a celebration after a conference, he said, and only later became known as a Reform UK event. Nelson added that the appearance was meant to “spread joy” regardless of skin color or faith, and apologized that it had been misunderstood.

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They knew that they were only invited so that these songs could be used for party purposes, songs that mean so much to people all over the world.

Mitchell said fans had sent her distressed messages after seeing the performance and made clear that she had nothing to do with it. She pointed to her family history, saying her father belonged to the Windrush generation that migrated from the Caribbean to Britain from the late 1940s. Mitchell, who came from Jamaica, said Britain should remain a country that welcomes immigrants and asylum seekers.

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To perform in front of the whole world at an event that does not welcome people in need means selling your own soul and heritage for money.

She also criticized performers who, she said, pretended to be something they were not despite knowing they had never sung any of Boney M.’s songs. Maizie Williams was a member of the band produced by Frank Farian, but Mitchell and Marcia Barrett provided the vocals on the group’s best-known studio hits. Mitchell continues to perform Boney M. music.

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Spread joy.