Update: After clearing up his legal situation in South Africa, Yasiin Bey has announced his final U.S. shows before he intends to retire from music. The last concerts will take place at New York’s Apollo Theater and Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. See the dates below.
December 21 — New York, NY @ Apollo Theater
December 31 — Washington, D.C. @ Kennedy Center
January 1 — Washington, D.C. @ Kennedy Center
January 2 — Washington, D.C. @ Kennedy Center
Expatriate Yasiin Bey (f.k.a. Mos Def) is now finally able to leave South Africa, according to Reuters. Bey reportedly apologized to the South African government for violating its immigration laws.
“The department is satisfied with the apology [and] will withdraw the charges against him,” the Home Affairs Department said in a statement.
Bey was arrested back in January for trying to leave the country with a “world passport,” which is issued by the World Service Authority “to provide a global political service institution for the installation and maintenance of world peace.” However, South Africa doesn’t recognize it as proof of identity. Although he’s permitted to leave the country, Bey will be placed on South Africa’s “undesirable person” list, which disallows him from re-entering the nation.
Despite the legal entanglements, Bey still remained a present voice this year, releasing a few new songs and freestyling on Kanye West’s website. He also said in October that he still plans on retiring from rapping this year.
