PUEBLA LITERATURE FESTIVAL REVOKES SOUTH AFRICAN INVITATION AFTER 'VICTIMISATION' OF NIGERIAN-BORN MISS SA CONTESTANT CHIDIMMA. (PHOTOS). #PRESS RELEASE.

 

Puebla Literature Festival Revokes South African Invitation After ‘Victimisation’ Of Nigerian-born Miss SA Contestant Chidimma. 

We regret to announce the decision to rescind South Africa's designation as the Country-in-Focus for this year's festival, and to 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 state, coupled with the troubling silence of many within the cultural sphere, have enabled a climate 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 justice, equality, and human dignity that literature seeks to uphold. The Puebla International literature Festival aims to position itself as a beacon for the celebration of diverse voices, cultures, and ideas. We believe that literature has the power to challenge the status quo, to speak to authority, and to give a voice to the voiceless. However, we cannot, in good conscience, honour a country as a focal point of our celebration when it is currently embroiled in such profound injustices as has been currently gathering momentum following the Miss South Africa beauty pageantry. Our decision is not a rejection of the rich literary heritage and the many courageous writers, poets, and artists of South Afica who continue to inspire the world. Instead, it is a statement against the current state of affairs that contradicts the values we hold dear. We stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for justice, both within South Africa and across the globe. We will continue to support and provide platforms for South African writers and thinkers who are working towards positive change. However, wve believe it is crucial to send a clear message that cultural recognition cannot be divorced from ethical responsibility.

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