Malian singer and songwriter Salif Keita has cancelled his upcoming commercial performances in South Africa over reports of xenophobic violence against African migrants, his spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday. He described the cancellation as a “painful decision”, but stressed that his action was not directed at South Africans or the country itself. “To be clear, I am not closing the door on South Africa. I am closing the door on violence,” he said. “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,” he said.   submitted by   /u/Bakyumu [link]   [comments]