Music / NewsWatch M.I.A.’s panel with Julian Assange and Slavoj ŽižekThe musician was joined by the Wikileaks founder and pop philosopher to discuss ‘the complexities of global activism and art in a changing world’ShareLink copied ✔️June 12, 2017MusicNewsTextSelim Bulut M.I.A. is the curator of this year’s Meltdown Festival, which kicked off at London’s Southbank Centre this weekend and runs until June 18. Besides bringing artists as musically distinct as Soulwax, Mykki Blanco, MHD, and JD Samson to the city, she also announced last week that she’d be hosting a panel discussion with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and philosophers Slavoj Žižek, and Srećko Horvat titled ‘What’s Coming Next’. The panel was billed by the Southbank Centre as a discussion of “the complexities of global activism and art in a changing world”. Now, a video of the session has appeared on YouTube. The talk sees M.I.A., Horvat, and Žižek joined by Assange via a remote video link from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where Assange has been since 2012. The Swedish authorities recently dropped their sexual assault investigation into Assange – to which M.I.A. penned a statement defending him – though he can’t leave as there is still a warrant for his arrest from the Metropolitan Police. Watch the talk below, and revisit M.I.A.’s recently released new song “GOALS”. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MORECorridos tumbados: A guide to Mexico’s most controversial music genreSekou is the 21-year-old baritone making 70s soul cool againDon’t Be Dumb: The top 5 features on A$AP Rocky’s new album The rise of ‘Britainicana’: How Westside Cowboy are reshaping UK indieR!R!Riot is Taiwan’s pluggnb princessWhen did UK underground rap get so Christian? Why listening parties are everywhere right nowA night out with Feng, the ‘positive punk’ of UK UgDoppel-gäng gäng gäng: 7 times artists used body doublesWesley Joseph is the Marty Supreme of R&B (only nicer) How Turnstile are reinventing hardcore for the internet ageWill these be the biggest musical moments of 2026?Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy