Malian music legend Salif Keita has cancelled his upcoming commercial performances in South Africa, citing reports of xenophobic violence and attacks against African migrants. The decision has sparked renewed discussion about the country’s treatment of foreign nationals and the wider impact of anti-migrant tensions across the continent.
Keita announced the decision in an open statement, describing it as a painful choice. He said he could not ignore reports of African migrants being attacked and stressed that his decision was directed at violence rather than the South African people. His manager, Carolina Vallejo of One World Records, subsequently confirmed the cancellation to AFP.
The veteran singer made clear that he still has a strong emotional connection to South Africa. His relationship with the country stretches back decades, including his appearance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley in 1988, an event that became an important moment in the international campaign against apartheid. Keita has therefore presented his decision as being consistent with his longstanding support for African solidarity and dignity.
The cancellations come amid renewed anti-immigration demonstrations in South Africa. Earlier this year, groups including March and March organised protests demanding tougher action against undocumented migrants. Human Rights Watch reported that some demonstrations in April and May were accompanied by violent attacks against foreign nationals in cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban.
The issue has also had consequences beyond the protests themselves. AFP reported that more than 160,000 people have left South Africa since late May, based on figures from African governments involved in repatriation efforts. The departures have included citizens from several African countries, including Nigeria.
For Keita, however, the decision does not represent a permanent rejection of South Africa. He has indicated that he remains open to returning when circumstances improve and when performances can once again represent unity and healing. His position has therefore been framed as a protest against violence rather than a rejection of South African audiences.
The cancellation is significant because Keita has spent more than five decades building a career that has crossed African borders and promoted the idea of a shared continental identity. His decision places a prominent African cultural figure at the centre of an increasingly sensitive debate over migration, xenophobia and the responsibilities of governments and communities toward foreign nationals.
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