Kanye Concert in Albania Given the Go-Ahead Amid Cancellations

Photo Credit: Jason Persse / CC by 2.0

The Albanian Prime Minister confirms that a Kanye West concert will go ahead in the country, despite several cancelled shows in Europe and Australia.

On Thursday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on social media that a Kanye West concert will go ahead as planned in the country on July 11 in Tirana. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Albanian institutions will not sponsor the concert; the Ministry of Culture said the show will be self-financed from ticket sales, but a coordination of institutions will help “facilitate” its progress.

“In every aspect, it is our obligation to welcome and facilitate the development of such events that bring numerous benefits to tourism and the economy,” said the Ministry of Culture.

The news comes amid several cancellations of West concerts across Europe, the UK, and Australia, due to antisemitism concerns. West, who also goes by Ye, has lost lucrative business deals with the likes of Adidas and Balenciaga over his descent into antisemitism over the past few years. Despite issuing a full-page apology in The Wall Street Journal, many critics and human rights organizations have said it’s far from enough.

Sidorela Vatnikaj, a human rights activist in Tirana, has criticized the Albanian government’s decision to go ahead with the concert.

“Organizing his concert in Tirana is a very problematic event because […] it legitimizes an individual who has often used his popularity to justify and glorify Nazism,” said Vatnikaj.

Similarly, Isa Myzyraj, head of the Association of Journalists of Albania, said that it is “incomprehensible why the Prime Minister decides to provoke [people] by promoting Kanye West.”

“[Rama] is a country leader who in January gave a speech in the [Israeli parliament] and appears as a supporter of Israel, and on the other hand, a few months later, promotes Kanye West, who, for reasons we all know, as promoted not only antisemitism but also the most savage leader humanity has ever seen [Hitler],” said Myzyraj.

Meanwhile, West’s concert in Portugal is reportedly still due to go ahead on August 7.

“It’s a music event that’s going to happen,” said Torcato Jorge, CEO and co-founder of Raya Culture, the event’s organizer. “It would become an issue if the services identified a national threat to public order, which is not the case.”

The disgraced rapper is also slated to play a pair of shows in the Netherlands on June 6 and June 8. Finally, a set in New Delhi, India, takes place on May 23.

Ye’s 12-year-old daughter with Kim Kardashian, North West, will also be debuting her first EP with an immersive pop-up at Complex LA. She will also be performing at her first festival at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash in Chicago later this month.