"As Boston’s champion for global music and artists, Global Arts Live is facing a moment unlike anything in our 35-year history. This year alone, we have lost three concerts due to our federal administration’s expanding travel bans. These cancellations are heartbreaking for our audiences and devastating for the artists who rely on touring for their livelihoods.
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Most recently, we were forced to cancel a performance by Les Ballets Africains after artists from the Republic of Guinea were unable to obtain visas. Habib Koité, from Mali—whom we have welcomed to Boston 17 times since his first appearance with us in 2000—was forced to cancel his tour due to visa denials. We had been working to bring back Tinariwen, Tuareg artists from the Sahara region of southern Algeria and northern Mali, but their upcoming tour was abruptly halted because of visa issues."
