Yasiin Bey, formerly Mos Def, due in South African court over passport

Jan 20, 2016

Rapper Yasiin Bey, formerly Mos Def, took to his friend Kanye West’s website to plead his case concerning his detainment in and expulsion from South Africa.

Bey was in trouble with the South African authorities for traveling on an invalid passport, one that he referred to as a “world passport” and was detained when he tried to leave for a show in Ethiopia.

According to South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, Bey entered the country as an American but overstayed his visa.

But on Tuesday night, a representative of Bey explained their side of the story to Okay Africa, saying that his passport was “not a fictitious document,” and further claiming that the South African government was trying to get him out of the country for political reasons. A representative also claimed that the passport had been accepted as recently as August and that he had previously been detained for at least two nights over the passport.

In the recorded message on Yeezy’s site, Bey says “No more parties in SA,” a take off West’s recent release with Kendrick Lamar “No More Parties In LA.”

“I am being prevented from leaving unjustly, unlawfully and without any logical reason,” Bey said. However, South Africa says it is giving him 14 days to leave the country after his release. He said that he had a “right to domicile” where he wanted but that he and his family were planning to leave the country for good.

What’s more, Bey announced the end of his music and entertainment career, “effective immediately,” saying that his final album would be released this year.

Bey is scheduled to appear in South African court March 8.