A Grammy is no longer enough to guarantee entry into the United States for an African band. Tinariwen, the acclaimed Malian guitar ensemble and Grammy winner, saw a major North American tour scheduled for 2026 canceled due to travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on 19 countries, including Mali, home to most of the group’s members. Their manager, Patrick Votan, told the New York Times: “It’s completely hopeless now to tour in the U.S. There’s not really any solution to come back again”. Since the GOP leader took office, total or partial bans have been imposed on dozens of countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Niger, Laos, Sierra Leone, and Syria. The costs for obtaining visas, already high, have reached approximately $6,000 for expedited processing, not including travel expenses.

Source: International New York Times January 20, 2026 17:03 UTC