South Africa removed as ‘country in focus’ at Puebla Festival over Adetshina’s controversy

South Africa has been pulled out as the “country in focus” at the 2024 Puebla International Literature Festival (PILF) over its handling of the controversy surrounding Chidimma Adetshina‘s nationality.

PILF is an annual event dedicated to celebrating literature and promoting cultural exchange. Founded in 2024 by the Africa Center Mexico, the festival aims to gather renowned authors, emerging writers, literary enthusiasts, and cultural aficionados from Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia to share their stories and inspire one another.

On July 5, South Africa was announced as the festival’s “country in focus” for its maiden edition. As the “country in focus”, South Africa’s literary tradition was supposed to be spotlighted during a three-day-long event from October 4 to 6 in Puebla, Mexico.

But on Thursday, the festival organisers announced their resolve to rescind South Africa’s designation as the “country in focus” for this year’s festival. It also cancelled the invitation handed to South African guests attending the festival.

In a statement via X, Ikenna Okeh, the festival’s director, argued that the “victimisation of Chidimma Adetshina, her family and members of the immigrant communities in South Africa” is against the festival’s principles.

Okeh also said the festival will continue to support South African “writers and singers” regardless.

“We regret to announce the decision to rescind South Africa’s designation as the Country-in-Focus for this year’s festival, and to rescind the invitation of our South African guests,” the statement reads in part.

“This decision has been made after careful consideration of recent developments that have deeply troubled the African community.

“It is with 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 victimisation of Chidimma Adetshina, her family and members of the immigrant communities in South Africa thus undermining the very principles of justice, equality and human dignity that literature seek to uphold.”