Salif Keita has pulled out of this weekends Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek due to illness, organisers confirmed today.
The festival said in a statement that Keita is unable to travel to South Africa following a sudden illness that requires an emergency medical procedure. He will therefore no longer perform at the inaugural African edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival, currently underway in Franschhoek.
The news comes just days after Keita reaffirmed his connection to the country. Speaking to the Mail Guardian last week, he said: I have a bond with South Africa. Deep in my heart, I am South African. I was part of the movement for Mandelas liberation and I was close friends with the legendary Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba. South Africa is in my veins an incredibly special country.
