Malian music legend Salif Keita has cancelled all his upcoming commercial performances in South Africa, citing reports of xenophobic violence against African migrants.
The 76-year-old singer, widely known as the “Golden Voice of Africa,” announced the decision in a Facebook statement this week. His manager, Carolina Vallejo of One World Records, confirmed the move to AFP.
“I cannot ignore the reports of xenophobic violence against our African brothers and sisters,” Keita said. He described the choice as “painful,” adding: “When I see migrants being attacked, I don’t see ‘politics.’ I see people searching for work, safety, and dignity. That does not match the South Africa I know — the South Africa that stood firm with Mali, and the South Africa that Nelson Mandela built.”
Keita stressed the cancellation is not a rejection of South Africans. “To be clear — I am not closing the door on South Africa. I am closing the door on violence,” he wrote. He remains open to non-commercial appearances in townships or community settings focused on dialogue, healing and ubuntu, and hopes to return when conditions improve.
The artist was scheduled to headline the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe) in Bloemfontein around 12 September 2026. South Africa has faced a series of anti-illegal immigration marches earlier this year that at times turned deadly.
Keita, whose career spans more than 50 years, still tours though less frequently for medical reasons. In 1988 he performed at Wembley Stadium in support of the anti-apartheid struggle, a history he referenced in explaining his current stance.
