Birmingham, UK - Organisers of the Isintu Festival UK have removed award-winning South African actress Dawn Thandeka King from the event’s lineup just days before the postponed cultural celebration, citing concerns over “community unity” and potential controversy.
The decision, confirmed in a statement issued late Tuesday, comes after King - best known for her roles in popular South African soap operas Uzalo and Isitha: The Enemy - had been heavily promoted as a headline performer for the festival originally scheduled for 11 July at the Holford Drive Community Hub in Birmingham.
In a brief email statement, festival organisers said: “Following internal consultations and feedback from key community stakeholders, we have adjusted the artistic programme to ensure Isintu remains a space of inclusive celebration for all. Ms King’s contributions to African arts are acknowledged, but we must prioritise harmony at this time.”
Sources close to the planning committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Mopane News that objections centred on King’s recent public advocacy for traditional African herbal remedies and spiritual healing practices.
Her high-profile involvement with Indalo Enhle Herbs and support for alternative therapies had drawn both praise and criticism on social media in recent weeks, with some UK-based African diaspora groups expressing fears that her presence could polarise attendees.
King, who has more than three million Instagram followers, responded via a video statement posted on her social media accounts on Wednesday morning.
“I received the news with understanding but also sadness,” she said. “Isintu is about our shared heritage, our music, our stories. If my voice, one rooted in culture and healing, is seen as divisive, then we must ask deeper questions about what unity truly means. I pray for the festival’s success and will continue carrying our traditions wherever I am called.”
The Isintu Festival, now rescheduled for a later date in 2026, aims to celebrate Southern African music, dance, food and culture in the UK.
Other South African artists who had been billed to perform at the festival are the Qwabe Twins who have been dropped from the posters.
Meanwhile, award-winning South African singer Makhadzi is facing growing calls for her performance at the Cheso Music Festival on 31 July to be cancelled amid ongoing anti-immigration protests in South Africa.