yasiin bey (formerly known as Mos Def) can finally leave South Africa after a 10-month detainment. Get the details on his release, PLUS the epicness he has in store before he retires inside…
yasiin bey (formerly known as Mos Def) can finally leave South Africa after he was detained for 10-months. He apologized to the government for violating immigration laws and they agreed he could leave. He can no longer re-enter South Africa.
You’ll recall, the Brooklyn rapper was arrested at Cape Town International airport for trying to use an illegal “World Passport” to leave the country back in January. He appeared before a South African court where he was ordered to leave the country and was given 14 days to do so.
yasiin and his family have been living in South Africa illegally since 2013. He entered the country with a U.S. passport, but overstayed on an expired visa. When he tried to leave using the illegal “World Passport,” that’s when they arrested him.
Since the 42-year-old had renounced his American citizenship, South African officials couldn’t just deport him back to the United States as he has had trouble re-entering the States on numerous occasions.
According to TMZ, yasiin and his family left the country Tuesday.
He must have been given the greenlight to re-enter the United States as he is gearing up for a farewell series before he officially retires from the rap game.
yasiin will present his final U.S. performances at the Apollo Theater, kicking off on Wednesday, December21st, culminating at The Kennedy Center from Saturday, December 31st through Monday, January 2, 2017.
Every show will offer a unique musical experience for audiences with the legendary rapper performing songs from a different album each night, including The New Danger, True Magic, The Ecstatic, and Black on Both Sides, alongside new material.
Several special guests will join him for surprise performances. On New Year’s Eve, yasiin will host a post-show party in the Grand Foyer to bring in the new year.
Following the farewell series, yasiin bey will venture to Africa to focus on his arts, culture, and lifestyle collective, A Country Called Earth (ACCE). He will also continue to pursue his newly formed passions as a painter and his art, as well as that of various other ACCE artists, will be anonymously displayed at the Apollo Theater and the Kennedy Center during the series.
Tickets for yasiin bey at the Apollo will go on sale on Friday, December 2 at 12pm EST. An online ticket pre-sale will be offered to the Apollo’s “A-list” email list beginning Tuesday, November 29th at 12pm EST. Fans can sign-up for the A-list at Apollotheater.org.
Get excited!
Photo: Getty
