Malian singer Salif Keita has cancelled his upcoming commercial performances in South Africa over concerns about xenophobic violence against African migrants. 

The singer said he could not ignore reports of violence against African migrants in South Africa.  He went on to describe the decision to cancel his shows as painful. 

“I cannot ignore the reports of xenophobic violence against our African brothers and sisters,” Keita stated in an open letter 

The Malian music icon said his decision was not an outright rejection of South Africa, but a response to the violence directed at migrants from other African countries. 

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

Keita also expressed concern about the treatment of migrants who, like many others, travel in search of work, safety and better opportunities. 

He wrote: “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.” 

His manager, Carolina Vallejo of One World Records, confirmed the decision to AFP on Wednesday. 

This comes after South Africa staged anti-migrant protests in the country and asked Black African immigrants to leave their country. 

Keita has a longstanding connection with South Africa. In 1988, he performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London, an event that drew global attention to the anti-apartheid struggle.