Mali music star Salif Keïta cancels South African concerts over ‘xenophobic violence’

World-renowned Malian artist Salif Keïta has cancelled his upcoming South African concerts due to concerns over "xenophobic violence" which has been targeting African migrants. The decision has been met with disappointment in the Free State province, where Keïta was set to perform at the Macufe festival next month. South Africa has witnessed a surge in protests demanding the departure of undocumented migrants, with a deadline of September 30th set for their repatriation.

The South African government has acknowledged the crackdown on illegal immigration but stressed that those resorting to personal enforcement have been arrested. Keïta, a 77-year-old global music icon, expressed his inability to overlook the reports of violence against African migrants in a statement. He emphasized that his cancellation of the Macufe festival appearance is a rejection of hate, not South Africans, leaving the possibility for future performances open.

The Free State's culture department regretted Keïta's decision, highlighting the festival as a celebration of African unity. The musician, often referred to as the "Golden Voice of Africa", has been instrumental in promoting African music worldwide for over five decades. As news of the cancellation emerged, the first group of 173 Tanzanians returned from South Africa as part of a voluntary repatriation program.

Many of them had spent decades in South Africa, facing difficult and dangerous circumstances. Over 160,000 people have left the country via repatriation schemes since May, including Malawians, Zimbabweans, Zambians, Ghanaians, and Nigerians. The anti-migrant group March and March has announced a second wave of nationwide protests scheduled for September 30th, with the previous demonstration in June marked by some violent outbreaks.