Music legend Salif Keïta cancels South Africa shows over rising anti-migrant hostility

The decision by the 77-year-old musician - widely celebrated as the "Golden Voice of Africa" - comes as a direct protest against the growing wave of xenophobic intimidation and violence directed at African migrants across the host country.

In a public statement detailing his withdrawal, Keïta clarified that his refusal to perform on commercial stages was not intended as a rejection of South Africa or its people, but rather a firm stance against rising hatred. 

Reflecting on his long history of solidarity with the nation, which includes performing at London's Wembley Stadium in 1988 during the anti-apartheid struggle, the singer emphasized that seeing migrants targeted conflicts with the legacy built by Nelson Mandela. 

He added that colonial-era borders should never divide shared African humanity, reiterating that migrants seeking employment, safety, and basic dignity deserve respect rather than hostility.

The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation expressed strong disappointment over the cancellation, noting that the Macufe festival is explicitly designed to foster pan-African unity and cultural exchange. 

However, Keïta's exit highlights escalating tensions within South Africa, where anti-immigration movements like March and March and Operation Dudula have organized intense protests demanding the departure of undocumented foreign nationals.

The worsening unrest and localized violence have triggered massive voluntary repatriation efforts coordinated by several neighboring governments. 

More than 160,000 migrants - including citizens of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania - have fled or been evacuated from South Africa since May. 

While the South African government continues to defend its law enforcement efforts against illegal immigration and insists that perpetrators of violent acts against foreigners are being arrested, the escalating crisis has left deep fissures in regional diplomacy and cultural solidarity.