South African entertainers are reportedly facing widespread cancellation of performance bookings across the African continent, as anger over recent xenophobic attacks in the country begins to spill into the creative and entertainment sector.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has confirmed that several South African artists are losing gigs abroad following renewed tensions linked to anti-immigration protests and unrest targeting foreign nationals.
The protests, led by the March and March movement, began in late April and have spread across major cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban, prompting concern and condemnation from several African countries.
In response to the unrest, some governments have taken precautionary measures.
About 350 Ghanaians have already been evacuated from South Africa, while more than 800 others are reportedly registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria to return home voluntarily.
Nigeria and other countries have also issued travel advisories to their citizens.
According to Minister Kubayi, the fallout is now being felt within South Africa’s entertainment industry, which relies heavily on performance opportunities across the continent.
She disclosed that at least one artist had informed her that all scheduled bookings across Africa had been cancelled, resulting in significant income losses.
“Majority of South African artists perform on the continent, and many of them are seeing their gigs being cancelled.
One artist reached out to me and said all her gigs were cancelled on the continent,” she said.
Kubayi added that the government would engage stakeholders in the arts and culture sector to assess the broader economic impact of the cancellations and determine possible responses.
She stressed that African tours and performances are a key source of revenue for many South African entertainers, making the current wave of cancellations a serious concern for the industry.
