Malian music icon Salif Keita has cancelled his upcoming commercial performances in South Africa over concerns about reports of xenophobic violence against African migrants in the country.
Keita said he could not ignore reports of attacks targeting migrants from other African countries, describing his decision to cancel the performances as a painful one.
“I cannot ignore the reports of xenophobic violence against our African brothers and sisters,” Keita said in an open letter.
The legendary singer stressed that his decision was not a rejection of South Africa, but rather a protest against violence and discrimination directed at African migrants.
“To be clear — I am not closing the door on South Africa. I am closing the door on violence,” he said.
Keita also expressed concern about the treatment of migrants who travel to South Africa in search of employment, safety and better opportunities.
“When I see migrants being attacked, I don’t see ‘politics.’ I see people searching for work, safety, and dignity. That does not match the South Africa I know — the South Africa that stood firm with Mali, and the South Africa that Nelson Mandela built,” he wrote.
His manager, Carolina Vallejo of One World Records, confirmed the cancellation to AFP on Wednesday.
The decision comes amid renewed anti-migrant protests in South Africa, with some protesters calling on African immigrants to leave the country.
Keita has maintained a longstanding connection with South Africa and its anti-apartheid history. In 1988, he performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London, an internationally acclaimed event that helped draw attention to the struggle against apartheid.
The singer’s latest decision reflects his continued association with the ideals of African solidarity and his opposition to violence and discrimination against migrants on the continent.
