Duke & MCZO, the Tanzanian artists affiliated with Uganda’s Nyege Nyege collective and festival, were forced to cancel a show in New York over the weekend after they were denied entry to the US.
The artists had made a month-long visa application for the US to perform as part of a Nyege Nyege showcase for the Red Bull Music Festival for, as a statement from them explains, "a fee that is more than our combined families make in a year".
The statement continues, describing the pair’s building touring schedule as "a blessing to see the whole of the world," going on to ask "why [they would] stay illegally in the United States". They say that US immigration figures would not believe that they intended to overstay their visa if granted.
"As two twenty year old Tanzanian boys, with no secondary school education and no knowledge of English and no family in America, the consular authorities seemed to sincerely think that there was a ‘better life’ available for us there that we would not resist to chase. But the current situation in America does not indicate any sign that we would find more freedom, happiness and success there, or does it?"
They wrap up their statement, along with sharing a new mix which you can hear above, saying: "We will continue to do everything to honor the invitations we receive in America, and one day you will feel the magic of singeli and we will dance so much together."
The night went ahead on Saturday (May 18) with Nyege Nyege’s Kampire and Discwoman affiliate BEARCAT playing. Read Duke & MCZO’s full statement here.
