Puebla International Literature Festival (PILF) has removed South Africa as the “country in focus” for its 2024 edition due to the country’s handling of the controversy surrounding Chidimma Adetshina’s nationality.
Gatekeepers News reports that Adetshina, a 23-year-old model of Nigerian and Mozambican heritage, was born in Soweto, South Africa, and was set to compete in the Miss South Africa grand finale on August 10, 2024.
However, her participation was marred by controversy when the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) alleged that preliminary evidence suggested her mother may have committed fraud and identity theft. Adetshina subsequently withdrew from the competition on Thursday.
The festival’s director, Ikenna Okeh, stated that the “victimisation of Chidimma Adetshina, her family, and members of the immigrant communities in South Africa” goes against the festival’s principles.
Okeh announced that the festival would continue to support South African writers and thinkers, despite canceling the invitation to South African guests. The decision comes after South Africa was initially announced as the “country in focus” on July 5, with plans to spotlight its literary tradition during the festival from October 4 to 6 in Puebla, Mexico.
“We regret to announce the decision to rescind South Africa’s designation as the Country-in-Focus for this year’s festival, and to rescind the invitation of our South African guests,” the statement reads in part.
“This decision has been made after careful consideration of recent developments that have deeply troubled the African community.
“It is with sense of sadness that we acknowledge the distressing events in South Africa, where the apparatuses of the state, coupled with the troubling silence of many within the cultural sphere, have enabled a climate of mob rule.
“This has led to the victimisation of Chidimma Adetshina, her family and members of the immigrant communities in South Africa thus undermining the very principles of justice, equality and human dignity that literature seek to uphold.”
We regret to announce the revocation of South Africa’s designation as the Country-in-Focus for this year’s festival, and the withdrawal of the invitation of our South African guests following the victimization of Chidimma Adetshina, her family, & members of immigrant communities. pic.twitter.com/JbX8VpZ24E
— Puebla Int'l Literature Festival (@PueblaLitFest) August 8, 2024
