Macklemore cancels Dubai show in solidarity with Sudan, Gaza

US rapper Macklemore said he will be cancelling his upcoming show in Dubai over the ongoing crisis in Sudan and the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE) role in the "genocide and humanitarian crisis in the region".

In an Instagram post published on Saturday, he said the decision comes after 10 months of witnessing Israeli atrocities in the war on Gaza, as well as violence in Sudan.

He also said it comes after many of his fans and his supporters urged him to call off the show, and people also shared resources with him detailing what is happening in Sudan.

In his post, he shed light on the situation in Sudan, highlighting that there are over 10 million people who have been displaced, and millions of others face imminent famine and sexual violence.

"While numerous external forces contribute to this crisis, advocates, organisers, journalists and officials repeatedly highlight the UAE’s role in funding the RSF militia as a major factor," he wrote.

Violence in Sudan erupted in April 2023, with the UAE accused of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Rights groups have documented RSF involvement in killing, raping, and looting against non-Arab populations in West Darfur.

While the UAE has denied supplying weapons or ammunition to any of the warring factions in Sudan, Human Rights Watch has previously said the violence in Sudan could amount to genocide.

At least 150,000 people have been killed in the violence in Sudan, including many children.

"If I take the money while knowing it doesn’t sit right with my spirit, how am I any different than the politicians I’ve been actively protesting? How can I be outraged by their lack of integrity while compromising my own? How am I different than the countries that put dollars and power over human life?" he continued.

"We have been intentionally conditioned to be apathetic on issues outside of our personal needs. But the plight of Palestinian people has woken the world up… although dismantling systematic oppression might not fully happen during my lifetime, our collective analysis is evolving," Macklemore said.

The decision comes after activists in June called on him to cancel his show in solidarity with Gaza and Sudan. The show was set to be held on 4 October at the Coca-Cola Arena, with fans pointing out the soft drink brand was on a boycott list due to its alleged links to Israeli companies.

The UAE normalised relations with Israel in 2020 in a move widely condemned by Palestinians.

Macklemore has been outspoken over his support for Palestine, and his recent concerts have been filled with fans waving Palestinian flags.

He often drapes a keffiyeh around his shoulder and wears a Palestinian flag badge, or a "Free Palestine" sticker at his concerts.

He said that he was aware that his decision to cancel his Dubai show may "probably jeopardise" his future shows in the area, but "until the UAE stops arming and funding the RSF, I will not perform there."

He called on other artists to use their platforms and their fame to mobilise for collective liberation and said he hoped that his decision would bring more awareness to the urgent humanitarian situation in Sudan.

The decision was widely applauded online, with Bisan Owda, a Gaza journalist who has been documenting the war on the enclave praising him.

"Your bravery is remarkable, that’s how we must all stand for justice and the oppressed," she wrote under his post.

Macklemore garnered widespread attention in recent months after releasing the song 'Hind's Hall' in support of Gaza, inspired by the pro-Palestinian protest movement that swept through US college campuses this year.

The war on Gaza has killed at least 40,334 people since 7 October and wounded at least 93,356 in the same time frame. Israeli bombardment has also plunged Gaza into a deep humanitarian crisis and levelled entire neighbourhoods.