Damien Rice

World renowned song writer, singer and musician. He has also made notable contributions to human rights campaigns worldwide.

Damien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He achieved international success with his albums O in 2002, 9 in 2006 and My Favourite Faded Fantasy in 2014. Rice has also made notable contributions to human rights campaigns worldwide, including the Freedom Campaign and Campaign for Burma.

In honour of Berta Cáceres’s 50th birthday, Jófríður Ákadóttir (JFDR), Sandrayati Fay and Damien Rice wrote a song inspired by Berta’s life and work. The song was released in April 2021. The proceeds of the song go to the COPINH (Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras), the organisation founded by Berta in 1993. A video of the song illustrated by The Fake Pan was later released in collaboration with COPINH, Art for Amnesty and Amnesty International.

Now that you're gone; I can see that you're still around; the seed that fell to the ground; grew in and then it grew out...

Extract of Song for Berta (Damien Rice, Sandrayati Fay, JFDR - 2021)

Who was Berta?

Berta was a Honduran feminist and woman human rights defender who dedicated her life to defending the rights and the land of the Lenca indigenous People. Berta was campaigning against the construction of the Agua Zarca dam, a project that was backed by the Honduran government and international investors and that threatened the land and livelihoods of Lenca communities living near the Gualcarque River in western Honduras. Over the years Berta was persecuted, threatened and criminalised, but she was determined to continue speaking truth to power. Berta was murdered in her home on 2 March 2016 by a network of hitmen, former and active members of the Honduran military and members - including the head - of DESA, the company building the dam. COPINH continues to call for justice as the masterminds of the crime haven't been prosecuted and punished.

Learn more about #JusticiaParaBerta

Song for Berta celebrates Berta’s legacy. The artists explained that “her death feels like it became an emblem of strength, for community to gather with unwavering defence in support of what she believed in, with a call for humankind to wake up to the importance of the protection of the environment”. Indeed, Berta’s murder ignited and unified a regional movement for dignity and justice for indigenous communities. In the words of Bertha Zúniga Cáceres, Berta Cáceres’ daughter, “my mother is a seed that has multiplied”.

The making of "Song for Berta"

In March 2023, ISHR interviewed Damien Rice, Sandrayati and JFDR on what inspired them to wrote "Song for Berta" and why this song is important.

Watch the interview

Partnership with ISHR

In March 2023, ISHR partnered together with Art for Human Rights, Front Line Defenders and Amnesty International on the European Tour of Damien Rice to “celebrate those who protect our planet”. The artist performed “Song for Berta” in several of the tour stops and used the stage to mention the essential role land and environmental rights defenders play and the dangers they face for speaking the truth to corporate and state power. This message was amplified through ISHR and partners social media.

🎤 Last night, we were truly moved by the beautiful performance of @DamienRice, @sandrayati and @j0fridur dedicated to the memory of #BertaCaceres!

We are grateful for their powerful message in honour of Berta’s life! #CelebratingDefenders pic.twitter.com/cZi2ra7klr

— ISHR (@ISHRglobal) March 29, 2023

“Song for Berta” was for the first time live performed on stage by Damien Rice, Sandrayati Fay and JFDR at l’Alhambra in Geneva on 28/03/2023.

During the show, ISHR promoted in the foyer of the concert venue the case of Anexa Alfred Cunningham. Anexa is a land rights defender from Nicaragua in forced exile in Geneva. As a measure of reprisals to her activism, the authorities of Nicaragua have banned her from entering her own country. During the concert, flyers were handed over to the public to raise awareness about her story and signatures were collected for a petition calling the UN to support her case. Anexa attended the concert and reported to be moved by the song performance.

Highlights of the evening

Pre-concert

Bill Shipsey (Art for Human Rights) hangs a banner inviting the public to “celebrate those who defend our planet” in the foyer of l’Alhambra in Geneva.

Backstage

ISHR Staff Marianne Bertrand meets backstage singers Sandrayati and JFDR.

Getting signatures and support!

ISHR staff Paula Danilczyk with Amnesty International Switzerland staff and volunteers at the NGOs stand in the foyer of the concert.

Interview of the artists

Damien Rice, Sandrayati Fay and JFDR during the interview with ISHR staff after the concert.

Post concert

ISHR staff with Bill Shipsey (Art for Human Rights), Damien Rice, Sandrayati and JFDR after the concert in the Alhambra, Geneva (28/03/2023).