One of Africa’s veteran music stars has issued an apology after he was filmed appearing to kick a woman said to be one of his dancers.
Congolese star Koffi Olomide called the incident a “moment of madness” and posted a statement to his Facebook page saying: “Once again I would like to apologize to my friends, brothers, sisters, fans and especially to the woman.”
He later appeared on a local television station in DR (Democratic Republic) Congo where he told a interviewer: “I deeply regret what happened. It was a moment of madness.”
Olomide has faced widespread condemnation and outrage since video of the incident which happened at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International airport on Friday surfaced.
Kenyans on Twitter, popularly known as #KOT, immediately called for the arrest and deportation of the singer.
Hours later, the Rhumba maestro was arrested and deported on Saturday morning and his Kenyan visa suspended, a government spokesman confirmed to CNN.
Kenyan interior ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka said: “He behaved in a manner contrary to what is expected of public figures and what we expect of our visitors. That should serve as an example to other people as well.”
Mwenda added: “He left us with no option, we cannot entertain gender-based violence and stare at it right in front of our eyes.”
Kenyans on social media have widely praised the deportation, with some congratulating the national police and the Ministry of Youth and Gender affairs on the move. Others called for Olomide to be prosecuted in the country.
The singer was due to perform during his third tour of Kenya. A gig he was due to play at in Zambia was also canceled over the incident.
Njoya Tembo, President of the Zambia Association of Musicians, told a local newspaper, the Lusaka Times: “Koffi has proved to be violent when musicians are generally peace ambassadors. Being an election year, Zambians shouldn’t be subjected to any form of violence. We have invested a lot in peace and that can’t be traded for anything — not for a concert.”
Olomide has been convicted in the past of assault according to local media reports. In 2012, he received a three month suspended prison sentence for assaulting his producer.
