South African artists kick against Burna Boy’s inclusion in SA concert

There is an outcry from South African artists following the inclusion of Burna Boy in the line up of artiste to perform at the African Unite Concert

The musicians under the aegis of Tshwane Collective have sent a petition to the minister of arts and culture, kicking against Burna Boy performing at the ‘Africa Unite’ concert scheduled for 23 and 24 November.

The Africans Unite concerts, a response to recent xenophobia in the country is organised by Play Network Africa, based in Nigeria, in partnership with Phambili Media SA and appears to enjoy the support of South Africa’s department of arts and culture.

It will feature, along with Burna Boy, artistes such as Kwesa and Jidenna. However, the Tshwane Collective questioned the exclusion of local artists and Burna Boy’s invitation to perform at the concert, accusing the African Giant of inciting hatred against South Africa, in the wake of the xenophobic attacks.

“Whoever may have deemed that the country needs a PR exercise of this nature would have done so largely as a result of the callous, misleading and unwarranted incitement by this very artist. Not only did he spread falsehoods through his extensive platform, he literally incited violence and hate.

He further promised to inflict his own violence on locals before giving your government an ultimatum which you seem to have received and succumbed to”, the group said in the letter to Nathi Mthethwa, minister of art and culture.

The department of culture has however distanced itself from the concert and said that its logo had been used “erroneously” on posters advertising the event, Times Live reported.