South Africa’s Country-In-Focus designation has been withdrawn by Puebla International Literature Festival in Mexico.
South African guests and panelists were withdrawn.
The festival made this decision over the victimization of Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina during her participation in Miss South Africa.
The Festival Director, Ikenna Okeh, who made the decision known, wrote: “We regret to announce the decision to rescind South Africa’s designation as the Country-in-Focus for this year’s festival, and so also rescind the invitation of our South African guests. This decision has been made after careful consideration of recent developments that have deeply troubled the African community.
It is with a sense of sadness that we acknowledge the distressing events in South Africa, where the apparatuses of the stato, coupled with the troubling sience of many within the caltural sphere, have crabled a cimate of mob rule. ‘This has led to the victimization of Chidimma Adetshina, her family, and members of immigrant communities in South Africa, thus undermining the very principles of justics, equality, and human dignity that literature seeks so uphold.
The Poebla Insemational Literature Festival aims to position itself as a beacon for the ecleheation of diverse voices, cultures, and ideas. We believe that lecrature has the power to challenge the status qua, so speak to authority, and to give a voice do the voiceless. However, we cannot, in good conscience, honour a country as a focal point of our celebration she’s currently embroiled in such profound injustices as has been currently gathering momentum following the Miss South Africa beauty pageantry.
Our decision is noe a rejection of the rich literary heritage and the many couragcous writers, poets, and artists of South Africa who continue to inspire the woeld. Instead, it is a statement against the current state of affairs that contradicts the values we hold dear. We stand in solidarity with those abo are fighting for justice, boch within South Africa and acruss the globe.
We will continue to support and provide platforms for South African writers and thinkers who are working toaards positive change. However, we believe it is crucial so send a clear message that cultural recognition cannot be divorced from ethical
responsibilir:
The Puebla Incemational Literatare Festival remains committed to fostering dialogue, understanding, and solidarity among nations. We invite the global litcrary community to join us in this endeavor as we reflect on the role of literature in confronting the challenges of our time.”
