Controversial South African dancer, Zodwa Wabantu, who is
popularly known for performing without underwear, was deported from
Zambia on Saturday, on the grounds that her performance would “undermine
national values”.
“Zodwa has been deported,” her Zambian promoter Lucky
Munakampe, confirmed the development, adding that she said she had flown
out at 0520 GMT on a South African Airways flight.
Zambian musician Karasa Karayo was scheduled to launch his
album on 10th March 2018 and the promoter for the show Sunset Sound
Production, had lined up Zodwa to perform.
The organizers of the show said in a statement earlier this
week that Zambia’s National Arts Council had rejected their
application.
(NAC) claimed that allowing Zodwa to perform in Zambia will
be against the country’s national values adding that the application
did not meet the three months period in which to apply for clearance.
NAC further said Zodwa’s performance in Zambia would be against public
interest.
“The Council stated that… Zodwa’s performances were not in
the public interest and undermined our national values,” the statement
said.
National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister, Godfridah
Sumaili last week told state-run newspaper The Times of Zambia that
Zodwa was not welcome in the country and was promoting immorality with
her shows.
Zodwa says that when she confirmed that she was not wearing underwear, she was deported, reports Independent Online.
Zodwa said that she was not angry with Zambian authorities and hoped to return to the country soon.
“Leave them to fight, I will be back when they are ready to
have me. There was so much fighting between them. I am just an
entertainer who was invited to perform. I was stuck in the middle of it
all. I would love to still perform in Zambia in the future.”
Earlier this week Zodwa told TshisaLIVE that she would go
ahead with plans to perform in the country, despite suggestions that she
would not be welcome by authorities over her decision to not wear
underwear while performing.
“I think that people are just trying to sabotage me and the
event. The underwear thing is my choice and I don’t understand why
people are so upset. There are Christians who do much worse things
behind closed doors.”
She said that authorities were hoping to pray for her and cast out her “demons” while she was in the country.
“I will never wear a panty. I won’t change who I am for
them. Maybe they think they will pray for me or make me better. I
survived 2017 and I will survive this year. They can go and *fuck* off
if they have a problem with it.”
