By Jimmy Chazama & Sam Banda Jnr:
South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has claimed that the country’s brand is taking a major hit due to ongoing outrage over anti-immigrant sentiments and vigilante violence.
The minister said this during a press conference of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration,
Kubayi said the government could not ignore the continental pushback, revealing the direct impact on local performers.
“[The] majority of South African artists perform on the continent, and many are seeing their gigs cancelled. This is an income loss for South Africa,” Kubayi said.
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However, Kubayi said the South African government was taking steps to shift the narrative and repair diplomatic relations.
Malawi is one of the countries that host South African artists.
Recently, Kabula Festival, which was held in Blantyre City, also featured two South African artists, namely Heavy K and Mawhoo.
Heavy K showed up for the festival while Mawhoo did not make it.
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YDC Theatre Director Fumbani Phiri also said Wednesday that they had been affected in that a South African theatre company and facilitator would not make it for their inaugural Udolo Wanga Festival.
The festival is scheduled for Blantyre City later this month.
“These artists confirmed their participation way back but, following the xenophobic attacks, they are not coming,” Phiri said.
Meanwhile, other creatives in the country have expressed mixed views on whether South African artists should continue being invited to events.
Amapiano musician Temwah wrote on her Facebook page that it was wrong to host South African artists in the country while some Malawians were being ill-treated in the Rainbow Nation.
“The way South Africans are mistreating our brothers and sisters from Malawi, pa umunthu olo artist wawo sakuyenera kubwera kuno ku show, until they stop the violence,” she said.
Veteran musician Mlaka Maliro said opportunities came in two ways: Malawian artists getting invitations to perform in South Africa and South African artists getting invitations to perform in Malawi.
He said the situation at the moment was tricky in that Malawian artists could also be affected.
Maliro was quick to say that with xenophobic attacks, players should stand in solidarity with those affected.
Sound Addicts Live Executive Director Shadreck Kalukusha, who is the brains behind KuMingoli Bash, argued against shutting down cultural exchange programmes.
“It is more important for us to keep inviting these South Africans artists and for our artists to keep going to South Africa and show them we can all live as one Africa,” Kalukusha said.
Recently, Likoma Island Festival announced that it would not involve any South African artist this year, describing the move as a show of solidarity with immigrants who were facing xenophobic attacks.
