Rabat – French rapper Booba’s upcoming concert in Casablanca’s Mohammed V Sports Complex, scheduled for June 21, has been canceled by local authorities.
The decision comes amidst a boycott campaign accusing the rapper of promoting sexism, with an official from the body confirming the cancellation to AFP when asked about the status of Booba’s show.
The official, who chose to remain anonymous, attributed the cancellation to a refusal from the Casablanca-Anfa prefecture, where the concert was supposed to take place.
[A LA UNE A 8H] Un concert de Booba programmé le 21 juin à Casablanca a été annulé par les autorités locales, sur fond de campagne de boycott accusant le rappeur français de sexisme #AFP 5/5 pic.twitter.com/vhkZj2lBfm
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) June 7, 2023
The Casablanca-Anfa prefecture had previously announced its decision to cancel Booba’s concert, citing concerns over the rapper’s offensive lyrics and videos directed at Moroccan women. In particular, the prefecture noted that Booba had released two songs containing derogatory language targeting Moroccan women.
Upon receiving the organizers’ request to hold the event, the Casablanca prefecture responded with a letter denying their request. The decision was supported by the Justice and Development Party (PJD), which directed a written question to Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mehdi Bensaid, urging him to cancel the concert due to the French rapper’s offensive language regarding Moroccan women.
Read Also: PJD Calls on Morocco’s Culture Minister To Cancel Concert of Misogynist French Rapper
Mourad Elajouti, the president of the Club of Moroccan Lawyers, also expressed his opposition to Booba’s presence in Morocco. In a tweet, Elajouti announced that the club would file a complaint against the rapper for defamation and insults targeting Moroccan women.
He further emphasized that, under Moroccan law, Booba could face a ban from entering the country, as the lyrics in several of his songs are considered offensive and disrespectful to the feelings and dignity of North African women as a whole.
The public has also taken to social media platforms to express their outrage and demand the cancellation of the event. Hashtags condemning Booba’s offensive lyrics and videos targeting Moroccan women have trended on Twitter and other social media platforms, with users sharing their concerns and urging authorities to take action.
The widespread online activism has generated a groundswell of support for the boycott campaign, amplifying the voices of those who believe that artists should be held accountable for promoting derogatory and sexist content.
