Malian music legend Salif Keïta has cancelled upcoming commercial performances in South Africa, including an appearance at the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe), citing what he described as “xenophobic violence” against African migrants.
The decision comes as anti-migrant protests intensify in one of Africa’s most industrialised economies, prompting thousands of foreign nationals to return home and increasingly straining cultural ties across the continent.
Explaining his decision, Keïta said he could not “ignore the reports of xenophobic violence against our African brothers and sisters.”
“When I see migrants attacked, I do not see 'politics'. I see people looking for work, safety, and dignity.”
The 77-year-old musician stressed that his decision was not a rejection of South Africans.
