The Malian musician has transformed a cancelled performance into a statement about migration, dignity and African solidarity.
BAMAKO, MALI
Salif Keita has cancelled his forthcoming commercial performances in South Africa, citing reports of violence against African migrants. The 77-year-old singer described the decision as painful and stressed that it was directed against hatred rather than the South African population. His manager, Carolina Vallejo, confirmed the withdrawal.
Keita did not identify every affected performance in his original statement. South African reports indicated that he had been expected at the Mangaung African Cultural Festival, known as Macufe. The event’s organisers and the Free State cultural authorities expressed regret, emphasising that the festival was intended to celebrate African unity.
The decision follows intensified anti-immigration demonstrations in several South African cities. Groups including Operation Dudula and March and March have demanded the removal of undocumented foreigners and, in some cases, attempted to block migrants from accessing employment or public services. Protests and related attacks have produced deaths and displacement, while more than 160,000 foreign nationals have left the country through repatriation programmes since late May, according to figures compiled from African governments.
Keita framed the controversy through the experience of migrants seeking employment, security and dignity. He rejected the idea that social frustration could justify hostility toward other Africans and argued that national borders should not override a shared humanity. His message reflects a broader dispute over whether economic insecurity and failures in immigration enforcement are being redirected against vulnerable communities.
The singer’s intervention carries historical significance. Keita performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in 1988, when international artists used music to support the struggle against apartheid. He said the conscience that took him to that event now required him to oppose violence against migrants in Mandela’s country.
His action is not presented as a permanent cultural boycott. Keita said he would remain willing to sing in a township or listen to communities seeking to be heard, and that he could return when conditions permit music to contribute to healing. By separating commercial appearances from community engagement, he has made cancellation itself part of the political message.
La narrativa también es poder. / Narrative is power too.