South African music icon Thandiswa Mazwai has recently withdrawn from the 2026 Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE) just days ahead of her scheduled performance on 12 September 2026.
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Thandiswa Mazwai announces withdrawal
The award-winning musician took to Instagram to announce she will no longer be performing at the cultural festival. The post was short and direct.
The Ingoma hitmaker didn’t offer any explanation as to why she will be absent from the line-up. However, she thanked her fans and those who were looking forward to seeing her at the event.
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2 High-profile MACUFE withdrawals
Mazwai is the second high-profile artist to pull out of the show, following Malian singer Salif Keita. The celebrated musician pulled out of his scheduled performances in August 2026, citing concerns over the alleged xenophobic violence against African migrants in South Africa.
Keita expressed his disappointment in the violence that was occurring at the time in a statement shared on 26 August 2026. He referenced the strong diplomatic ties between Mali and South Africa during Nelson Mandela’s presidency, writing:
“This does not match the South Africa I know — the South Africa that stood with Mali and the South Africa that Nelson Mandela built.”
The official lineup still includes high-profile artists such as Lira, Zonke, Sannere, Nathi, Ntando and the Jaziel Brothers, with the addition of Vusi Nova and Shandesh.
MACUFE 2026 impacted by various controversies
The cultural festival has been navigating a difficult season this year. According to the Bloemfontein community newspaper, Bloemfontein Courant, MACUFE 2026 has come under public and administrative scrutiny over its planning, budget and overall management.
In a recent report, the publication highlighted administrative changes, including the alleged removal of Takalani Ramabulana from his role as director of supply chain management at the Free State Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
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