Mafikizolo was scheduled to headline the Buddie Beatz Concert in Victoria Falls last month (on July 5, 2026).
However, Econet, the organisers dropped the South African duo from the lineup due to public backlash and security concerns sparked by xenophobic tensions in South Africa.
The event proceeded with an all-Zimbabwean lineup, featuring artists like Winky D and Killer T instead.
There are no upcoming Mafikizolo shows currently announced in Zimbabwe. .
However, instead of Mafikizolo, another exciting artist, Salif Keita from Mali is comimg to perform in Zimbabwe.
We last saw Salif Keita performing in Zimbabwe on May 3, 2015, during the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) at Harare Gardens, where he delivered a memorable performance that captivated local music lovers.
His return is expected to be one of the highlights of Zimbabwe’s entertainment calendar this year, offering fans another opportunity to experience the iconic performer live.
Salif Keïta, widely known as the "Golden Voice of Africa," is a legendary Malian singer-songwriter and pioneering force in Afropop.
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Born into a royal lineage in Djoliba, he initially faced severe ostracisation because of his albinism.
Yes, people with albinism generally have a normal life expectancy, intelligence, and physical development, but they face specific physical and social challenges that require management.
I was told that people with albinism do not live longer than 40 years. I have since dismissed that thinking as false because before Hifa in Zimbabwe, I had seen Salif Keita performing at the Astoria Theatre, a music venue which was situated at 157 Charing Cross Road near Tottenham Court Road Station, in London, England.
That was close to 30 years ago. He is now aged 76 years and still going strong.
He defied cultural taboos to pursue a revolutionary musical career that fused traditional Mande rhythms with international styles
Born on August 25, 1949, Keïta traces his lineage directly back to Sundiata Keïta, the 13th-century founder of the Mali Empire.
However, he was born into a poor farming household and with albinism—a condition traditionally stigmatised in Mandinka culture as a bad omen.
Because of his skin colour and the resulting poor eyesight, he was treated as an outcast by his family and community.
His decision to become a professional musician was an additional point of contention, as it was considered an inappropriate profession for a member of a royal lineage.
In 1967, Keïta moved to the capital, Bamako, to perform in local nightclubs.
By the late 1960s, he joined the government-sponsored Rail Band de Bamako, where he electrified traditional Mandé music with Afro-Caribbean influences.
In 1973, Keïta and guitarist Kante Manfila left the Rail Band to form Les Ambassadeurs. The band became a continental phenomenon, particularly after relocating to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, due to political instability in Mali.
It was here that Keïta released his highly acclaimed 1978 album, Mandjou, which cemented his reputation as an international star.
Seeking a wider audience, Keïta moved to Paris in the early 1980s.
He became a major figure in the emerging world music scene. His 1986 album Soro propelled him to global prominence.
His subsequent albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as Ko-Yan and Amen, were produced by Carlos Santana and catapulted him to international fame.
Throughout his career, Keïta has released dozens of albums, famously collaborating with artistes like Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, and Grace Jones.
Beyond his music, Keïta is a dedicated activist. In 1990, he established the SOS Albinos foundation to advocate for the rights and protection of people with albinism in West Africa.
In the late 1990s, he returned to Bamako to open his own recording studio and performance club, Moffou.
Keïta has received numerous international accolades, including a Victoire de la Musique (French version of Grammys) for his 2009 album La Différence.
He has also served as a United Nations Peace Ambassador and an ambassador for African music.
In 2023, Colonel Assimi Goïta appointed Keïta as a special adviser to the head of the Malian junta.
After a brief retirement, Keïta released So Kono in 2025, his first studio album in seven years.
He continues to be celebrated worldwide as an icon who bridged ancient West African musical traditions with global pop, rock, and jazz.
Come September 26, Harare will be on fire with Malian Rhythms. All the hungry people who would like to indulge in traditional African music will be there. See you then.
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