Peter Gabriel has said it is “alarming” that a number of musicians were unable to perform at his music festival Womad after they suffered visa issues.
The Genesis musician, who co-founded the world music event in 1980, said the visa process must be changed after a number of acts were unable to enter the UK.
He told the Guardian: “The right to travel for work, for education and even for pleasure is increasingly being restricted and often along racial and religious lines.
What a NIGHT! @Leftfield blew us all away, @MRGOLDIE knocked it right out of the park and @daarajfamily brought the perfect storm! To all the rest – it's been a true sensation. Keep partying WOMAD, there's so much more to see and the night is still young… #TheWorldsFestival 🌍 pic.twitter.com/d88392OOKP
— WOMAD UK (@WOMADfestival) July 27, 2018
“It is alarming that our UK festival would now have real problems bringing artists into this country… (many of whom) no longer want to come to the UK because of the difficulty, cost and delays with visas, along with the new fear that they will not be welcomed.”
Sabry Mosbah from Tunisia, Wazimbo from Mozambique and members of Niger’s Tal National were prevented from entering the UK, the event’s director Chris Smith told the newspaper.
Hashmat Sultana also experienced difficulties entering the country, arriving 24 hours after their scheduled performance.
Gabriel said: “There have been, and continue to be, good people within the Foreign Office who try to help us every year, but the warnings are becoming clearer: if we want a country which is open to people with ideas, traditions, food and culture different from our own, we have to change the current visa processes and find ways to turn back the growing anti-foreigner tide.
“Musicians travel for a living, and almost everywhere I have travelled I have been met with kindness and generosity.
“Do we really want a white-breaded Brexited flatland? A country that is losing the will to welcome the world?”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We welcome artists and musicians coming to the UK from non-EEA (European Economic Area) countries to perform.
“There is a long-standing route, which Womad festival uses, where festivals can apply to invite performers without the need to issue a certificate of sponsorship.”