Salif Keïta cancels South African shows, citing “xenophobic violence”

Malian singer Salif Keïta has cancelled his scheduled commercial performances in South Africa, including a headline appearance at the Mangaung African Cultural Festival in Bloemfontein.

Keïta said the decision was a response to reports of xenophobic violence against African migrants. He had been billed for MACUFE’s main concert on 12 September, during a festival programme running from 3 to 13 September.

The withdrawal removes one of the best-known international names from the Free State festival’s line-up less than two weeks before the event. Organisers had not announced a replacement by Sunday morning.

Keïta separates protest from South African audiences

In a statement reported by the Mail & Guardian, the 77-year-old musician described the cancellations as a painful decision and stressed that his action was directed at violence rather than the public that has supported him during a career spanning more than five decades.

“I am not closing the door on South Africa. I am closing the door on violence,” he said.

Keïta also indicated that he remained willing to perform in community spaces and could return to commercial stages when he believed the circumstances had changed. His statement therefore stops short of a permanent boycott of South Africa.

The immediate practical effect is on MACUFE, where Keïta was expected to anchor the main music programme. The festival brings music, theatre, dance, film and poetry to Mangaung over several days and promotes itself as a platform for African cultural exchange.

Cancellation lands during a tense migration debate

The musician’s decision comes as South Africa faces renewed political and public tension over migration. Anti-immigration campaigns and confrontations involving foreign nationals have drawn criticism from civil-society groups and other African governments.

Keïta’s statement did not set conditions for a future return or identify a new performance date. It also did not say whether ticket holders would be refunded; those arrangements remain the responsibility of the relevant event organisers and ticketing platforms.

People who bought tickets specifically to see Keïta should keep their booking records and monitor official MACUFE channels for line-up, refund or exchange information. Social-media posts should not be treated as confirmation of a replacement artist.

Born in Mali and widely known as the Golden Voice of Africa, Keïta has built an international career around Mandé musical traditions and contemporary African pop. His connection to South African political history includes performing at the 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium.

The cancellation turns a cultural booking into a broader continental statement, but the confirmed news remains specific: Keïta has withdrawn from scheduled commercial shows, including MACUFE, and has left open the possibility of performing in South Africa again.