Music

Mos Def kicked out of South Africa for fake passport

by Jeremy Mersereau

Yasiin Bey, a.k.a. Mos Def, Dante Smith, and Ford Prefect was arrested while trying to leave South Africa after it was revealed he’d overstayed his visitor’s permit.

According to South African newspaper The Mail and Guardian, Bey had been living in Cape Town since 2013, and was only found out when he attempted to fly out of the country without the proper documents.

When confronted at Cape Town International Airport, Bey attempted to use unrecognized papers which he called a “world passport” to get by suspicious officials… but, since there’s no such thing as a ‘world passport’, he was quickly detained and arrested.

(The Artist Formerly Known As) Mos Def now has 14 days to leave the country and will be barred from re-entering South Africa for at least five years as per government policy, but he can appeal to officials for leniency.

“My Umi said, shine your light on the world, so uh, can I come back now?”