The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was supposed to be a celebratory moment for the Midlands, especially the local-born musicians given the spotlight in the opening and closing ceremonies.
Unfortunately for Coventry rapper Pa Salieu, who was booked to perform in the closing ceremony on August 8, the moment has been stained by the Games’ decision to remove him from the line-up. The decision was so last minute that he had spent a considerable amount of time at the venue rehearsing for his performance.
The 24-year-old artist was acquitted in March 2022 of engaging in violent disorder during a brawl in which his friend, Fidel Glasgow, was stabbed to death. The decision, Pa Salieu writes in a recent Instagram post, was made in light of a supposed failed background check.
Not only that, but an ongoing court case—which he says has been hamstrung and delayed by the Home Office’s refusal to sign crucial paperwork—is also stripping him of the right to perform abroad.
“I’ve already had to cancel 90% of my shows this year because the Home Office won’t process the paperwork I need to travel abroad until my court case is finished,” said Pa Salieu. “I have fully co-operated with the process, attending court on time every single day. The trial ended in March, but they keep just moving the final sentencing date which was due to be in May. Most recently, the date moved because the ‘prosecutor has gone on holiday’.
“I’ve consistently been trying to use my career to show people where I’m from that there is another life for us. One away from the roads. But what can you do if the police, the justice system and the Home Office don’t care about you and put everything possible in your way to stop you trying to get on with your life? Next week’s performance should have been a celebration. What is the real reason here? How you can you fail a ‘background check’ to perform at a closing ceremony? What does that even mean?”
In a new statement, the Games’ organisers said: “Everyone involved in the Games goes through the same accreditation process; including our volunteers, performers, athletes, contractors, and workforce. We cannot comment on individual accreditation applications. This process facilitates the delivery of the Games.”
