Rapper Macklemore cancels Dubai concert over Sudan conflict: Will others follow?

When fans noticed that rapper Macklemore had canceled an upcoming concert, some assumed it was an act of solidarity with Gaza.

However, the cancellation was actually due to the ongoing war in Sudan, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, left millions starving, and created a severe humanitarian crisis.

Dubai, the glamorous Gulf city and the largest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been widely accused of funding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the warring factions in Sudan.

Macklemore addressed the situation in an Instagram post on Monday, stating, “The crisis in Sudan is catastrophic.” Some food security experts predict that up to 2.5 million people could die from starvation and illness by October.

The rapper, who gained fame with his 2012 hit "Thrift Shop," questioned his role as an artist, asking, “I have to ask myself what is my intention as an artist?”

He added, “If I take the money, while knowing it doesn't sit right with my spirit, how am I any different from the politicians I've been actively protesting against?”

Macklemore’s decision has brought the brutal conflict in Sudan, which has received far less global attention than Ukraine or Gaza, into the spotlight. Activists hope other artists will be inspired to take similar stands.

“It was huge,” said a London-based activist campaigning for a ceasefire in Sudan. “In the comments, many people were saying, ‘oh, my God, what's happening in Sudan?’”

The activist believes Macklemore’s action has raised awareness about the situation.

The RSF is fighting the Sudanese army for control of the country and has been accused of committing sexual violence, looting, and ethnic cleansing in the areas it controls.

A report by Human Rights Watch suggests that the RSF may have committed genocide against non-Arabs in a city where 15,000 people are feared dead, though the group denies these allegations.

The RSF’s origins trace back to a militia known as the Janjaweed, which was also accused of genocide 20 years ago in Sudan, a conflict that resulted in an estimated 300,000 deaths.