Controversy Swirls Around French Rapper Booba’s Planned Morocco Concert

"We’re waiting for news of the concert in Morocco. Normally, it’s maintained. If it was canceled, it would be really regrettable," says the French rapper in a video posted on his Twitter account. The announcement of the concert had provoked strong reactions on social networks. Moroccan Internet users criticize Booba for misogynistic remarks made in some of his songs, insults towards Moroccan women. The performer of "Scarface" defends himself: "We love Morocco, we love Africa, we’ve never insulted Moroccans, or any Africans. We’ve always been (in Morocco, ed.) on vacation, in concert, so it would be really sad for the fans, for the music, for Africa. And if ever it’s canceled, we’re sorry."

The show, normally scheduled for June 21 at the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca, would be canceled, according to a document circulating on social networks for a few weeks, dated March 28. The prefecture of Casablanca-Anfa has also refused to grant its authorization. According to Booba, the Moroccan rapper Maes, formerly his friend, and the rapper Gims with whom he does not have good relations, would be behind these actions. "If you were really hot [...], you would have let the concert take place, you with your propaganda, Gims, etc., and you would have come to see me at your place where you say you’re the king," he justifies. [...] You would have done everything to make it happen so you could meet me, cross paths with me, but since you’re a coward, you prefer to have it canceled, so you know you won’t run into me."

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For his part, the manager of the company 10mentions, in charge of organizing the concert, assures that negotiations are still ongoing for the maintenance of the event. "We too are waiting for news. I think by tomorrow we’ll have the answer. Nothing is decided yet," he told H24info. In case of cancellation, he promises the refund of the tickets sold. 55% of the tickets have already been sold to date, the promoter said.