Irish rap trio Kneecap slammed Norway’s sovereign wealth fund during an Øyafestivalen set, citing investments in firms linked to Israel’s military and prompting a government review.
Irish rap trio Kneecap turned heads — and drew cheers — at Oslo’s Øyafestivalen on Aug. 8 when a pre-show video and the band’s onstage remarks accused the Norwegian government of “enabling” what they called a “genocide” in Gaza through investments held in the country’s sovereign wealth (oil pension) fund.
The black-and-white message that played before the set called out the fund’s stakes in companies linked to Israel’s military and urged “Free Palestine,” a message met with loud applause and Palestinian flags in the crowd.
Frontman Mo Chara — wrapped in a keffiyeh — told the Oslo audience that Kneecap would keep using its platform to call out “genocide and war criminals,” saying he wished he didn’t have to keep raising the issue but felt compelled to speak while investments remain unchanged.
The group also criticized KKR, the global investment firm behind many music festivals, arguing that companies investing in Israel amid the Gaza war should not be involved in music events. The crowd largely cheered their stance, though a small group of protesters outside the festival urged a boycott of Øyafestivalen over KKR’s ties.
The band’s accusations touched a raw nerve because Norway’s trillion-dollar Government Pension Fund — the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund — is already under political and public scrutiny.
Aftenposten and other outlets reported that the fund built a stake in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd., an Israeli firm that supplies parts and services for military aircraft, prompting Norway’s finance ministry to order a review of Israel-related holdings. Norwegian officials have said they will investigate whether any investments are contributing to the war effort.
The broader humanitarian backdrop Kneecap referenced is grim: Gaza authorities and U.N. agencies have reported catastrophic civilian suffering, including severe malnutrition and deaths linked to hunger and the collapse of services.
Aid groups say thousands of Palestinians have died and many more are at risk as the crisis continues; access and verification remain contested, and casualty figures vary between agencies.
Kneecap’s political stance comes amid other controversies surrounding the group. Mo Chara (Liam O’Hanna) is facing a terrorism-related charge in the U.K. over allegations he waved a Hezbollah flag at a 2024 concert — a charge the band has denied supporting and has called a political attempt to silence them.
The band has also faced bans from playing in some countries and accusations of promoting extremist views, which Kneecap rejects, saying their intent is to spotlight human rights abuses and stand in solidarity with oppressed communities.
Whether you back their politics or not, Kneecap made a conscious choice at Øyafestivalen to blend music and protest — adding fuel to a debate about where art, activism and the responsibilities of public institutions and investors intersect.
The Norwegian government’s review of the sovereign fund is ongoing, and the conversation — onstage and off — shows no sign of cooling.
Source: Billboard
