Yesterday (27 December), Solange posted a statement revealing that she’d been diagnosed with an Autonomic Disorder and, as a result, had cancelled her headlining Afropunk Festival set.
The show was due to take place in Johannesburg on New Year’s Eve. Though she didn’t specify what her disorder is in her public post, she shared the details: “Sometimes I feel cool, and other times not so cool at all.”. On her decision to pull out of the headline slot, she said, “It’s a complicated diagnoses , and I’m still learning so much myself, but right now, my doctors are not clearing me for such an extended lengthy flight, and doing a rigorous show right after.” However, she also stated that she would “come back with AfroPunk and deliver this performance”.
She added, “I can’t thank Afro Punk enough for their support, and to all of the other festivals this past summer/fall who have known about my health, kept it confidential, and gone out of their way to make me feel supported while doing these shows.”
Now, Afropunk have posted an online statement apologising for Solange’s cancellation. Their statement reveals they were unaware of her condition and decision to pull out from the line-up. It reads: “We only learned that Solange would not be attending this year’s festival within the last day. We value her as an artist and above all as a human being and understand that her health is paramount. Though we have worked with Solange on multiple festivals this year, we were not among the few who were aware that she has been privately dealing with this diagnosis.”
The organisers added, “We believe and trust her commitment to grace the 2018 AFROPUNK Joburg stage.”
“As confirmed by Solange in her statement, one of these events will be a solo Solange show. Once we have details, we will create a special discount code for 2017 AFROPUNK Joburg festival ticket holders to attend this show.”
Anderson .Paak and The Free Nationals, Theo Parrish and others are due to perform at the festival, from 30-31 December.
Read the statements below.
