Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) allowed to leave South Africa; announces farewell shows

Yasiin Bey in Chicago in 2015 (more by James Richards IV)
Yasiin Bey in Chicago in 2015 (more by James Richards IV)

Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) was arrested in South Africa (where he’s been living since 2013) back in January, and he’s been out on bail there, not allowed to leave the country, ever since. The arrest was for violation of immigration laws, which happened when he attempted to leave the country using a “world” passport, which is not typically accepted as valid travel documentation. In any case, after “sincerely apologizing,” he’s been allowed to leave the country, though he is now banned from re-entry.

Back in January, he also said that he was retiring from music, and he’s just announced wa farewell shows in NYC and DC that he says will be his final performances in the U.S. That NYC show is going down at the Apollo Theater on December 21. UPDATE: He added a second Apollo show on 12/22. Tickets for both shows are on sale now..

After the Apollo show, Bey will head to Washington, DC’s John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts from December 31 – January 2 where he’ll perform a different album in full each night, along with new material. He’s got a few other shows as well and all dates are listed, along with a stream of his most recent album, 2009’s The Ecstatic, below.

Yasiin Bey – 2016/2017 Tour Dates
Dec 09 Fox Theater Oakland, CA
Dec 13 Saban Theatre Beverly Hills, CA
Dec 14 Crest Theatre Sacramento, CA
Dec 21 The Apollo NYC
Dec 31 – Jan 2 John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts Washington DC
Jan 26, 2017 O2 Forum Kentish Town London, United Kingdom
Jan 27, 2017 O2 Forum Kentish Town London, United Kingdom