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Chinese censors ban protest anthem lauding decades of dissent - RFA
Censored Memories | Lyrics performed by Yinfi
Bio
I’m Yin Lu (Chinese: 盧印 / 卢印), better known as Yinfi, a musician and human rights advocate based in London, self-exiled from China since 2019. Under the stage name Yinfi, I adopt a distinct persona to champion civil liberties suppressed by Chinese authorities, performing songs banned by Beijing as a singer-songwriter—a defiance that has subjected me to transnational repression. As a classically trained screen composer, I am also a BAFTA Connect member, a SoundTrack Cologne European Talent Award winner, and an alumnus of the Royal College of Music.
I began my musical journey at the age of 10, learning the piano. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in literature from Nanjing University in 2013, then pursued my dream of becoming a film composer in Shanghai, where I built a career composing non-verbal music for films and video games. In 2018, I moved to the UK to study for a master’s degree in Composition for Screen at the Royal College of Music, later obtaining a Global Talent visa to remain in the UK.
In 2020, my growing awareness of social issues—including the Tiananmen protests of 1989, the 2019 Hong Kong protests, the plight of Uyghurs and Tibetans, and the Chinese authorities' handling of the pandemic—motivated me to speak out. My initial online advocacy for human rights led to career repercussions, including being blocked by industry associates both within and outside China, and the cancellation of commissions.
Determined to confront this chilling effect, I continued to raise my voice. In 2022, after attending many documentary screenings in London about the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, I was inspired by the artistic efforts of those advocating for civil liberties. I began performing the iconic protest song "Glory to Hong Kong," which was banned by the Hong Kong government, to counteract self-censorship among performers and to champion artistic freedom. The warm welcome and support from the Hong Kong diaspora empowered me immensely.
I have also participated in rallies in solidarity with Chinese dissidents, as well as Taiwanese, Tibetan, and Uyghur advocates for human rights. I have created and performed songs that counter the Chinese authorities' attempts to erase memories of the 1989 Tiananmen protests, the White Paper Movement in 2022, and the struggles of countless human rights defenders.
While these music productions are swiftly banned by Chinese censors when uploaded to Chinese platforms, videos of my performances on YouTube and other Western social media—platforms blocked in China—have received tremendous positive feedback from individuals around the world, including those within China who bypass internet restrictions to express their solidarity.
My activism has provoked various forms of transnational repression by Chinese authorities, including warnings to my family from State Security officials. As a result, I believe I cannot safely return to my homeland without facing unjust punishment, such as an exit ban or Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location, based on China's human rights record since my last visit in 2019. Despite these intimidations, I received significant support from my artist friends in China and remain convinced that continuing my artivism through music is a powerful way to counter the fear imposed by Chinese authorities, raise awareness about the importance of defending human rights, and safeguard artistic freedom.
