In a recent post on social media, Coventry-based artist Pa Salieu disclosed that his headline show in Coventry had been cancelled by “authorities”. On Twitter, he wrote: “Due to reasons beyond my control, the authorities have decided I can’t play my Coventry show.” 

Salieu was supposed to perform at the Kasbah nightclub on the 27th of November. The reasons for the cancellation is unclear, with Kasbah yet to comment. As of the time of writing, Kasbah have not put anything new on their twitter for the last nine days.

The show clearly meant a lot to Salieu, who hails from Coventry, mentions Coventry throughout his debut album, and entitled his album Send Them to Coventry. In the same statement, he says “I feel like I’m being let down by the city I love… why do they fear us?”

The show is part of his Afrikan Rebel Tour of the UK, with fellow rapper Backroad Gee as his supporting act, playing six dates across the country. Pa Salieu and Backroad Gee’s track ‘My Family’ helped Salieu become a big name in the UK. You can watch the video below:

This is the second of Pa Salieu’s shows to be called off this year, with a performance at the launch event of Coventry’s UK City of Culture. While the reasons behind the cancellation of his show at the Kasbah as of yet remain unclear, the Coventry UK City of Culture Trust stated, as per MixMag: “Due to the live nature of the investigation at the time we were preparing for our launch event, Coventry Moves, it was decided that it would not be possible for Pa to be involved.”

The investigation they are referring to is the murder case of Fidel Glasgow, where Salieu is alleged to be involved. Fidel Glasgow, the grandson of The Specials singer Neville Staple, was stabbed outside Club M and later died in hospital. While he is not directly involved in the murder, he is “accused of wounding another man during disorder preceded Mr Glasgow’s stabbing”, according to The BBC. Pa Salieu denies all charges. He is due to face trial in January next year.

Despite the Coventry UK City of Culture Trust explicitly stating that the investigation is the reason for his removal from the event, this time around both West Midlands Police and Coventry City Council said they had no involvement in the shows cancellation, as per The BBC.

See ticket information here and tour information below:

22/11/2021 – Thekla, Bristol
23/11 – Academy 2, Manchester
24/11 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
26/11 – Stylus, Leeds
29/11 – O2 Institute2, Birmingham
30/11 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham