Malian singer and songwriter Salif Keita has decided to cancel his scheduled performances in South Africa amid anti-immigrant protests in the country, his representative told the AFP agency.
South Africa has previously faced a series of demonstrations against illegal immigration, which in some cases have led to fatalities. In a statement on Facebook, Keita noted: 'I cannot ignore reports of xenophobic violence against our African brothers and sisters.'
The artist stated that he made the 'painful decision' to cancel upcoming commercial shows in South Africa, but he did not specify the dates or locations of these performances. His manager, Carolina Vallejo from One World Records, confirmed this decision to the AFP agency.
Despite being 76 years old and touring less frequently due to medical reasons, his career spans over fifty years. In a post, Keita emphasized: 'To be clear—I am not closing the door to South Africa. I am closing the door to violence.'
He added that when he sees attacks on migrants, he sees not 'politics,' but people seeking work, safety, and dignity. He contrasted this with the South Africa he knows—the one that supported Mali, and the one built by Nelson Mandela.
According to AFP estimates based on data from African governments that organized repatriations, more than 160,000 people have left South Africa since late May, including about 1,500 Nigerians.