I can only speak for South Africa...he is well known here, but is seen as a bit of an eccentric;

he has not played here, and I am sure people would really dig him.

his songs are on the radio here all the time though...

because they're homophobic and they think he's too feminine ?

Dewrede said:

i think the most homophobic people live in america..not africa

^
think again
it's like gays don't exist in africa
it's completely taboo
there's no comparison
[Edited 4/26/10 10:02am]

Audexia said:

America is indeed homophobic, but you've got to be kidding with me

It's completely irrelevant to why Prince hasn't gone to Africa, I'm assuming, but here's a map of gay rights around the world:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...y_laws.svg

The red areas on this map indicate the death penalty with the dark orange indicating life in prison. The cool colors (blues) represent more relaxed laws are even same-sex recognition.

The gray areas can either mean that homosexuals enjoy the same rights but are not 'written in to law' or that they simply are ignored altogether (this could mean they are either persecuted with no protections or that they enjoy similar or equal rights but there's no formal distinction... it could also indicate just lack of data).

.
[Edited 4/26/10 22:24pm]

Dewrede said:

I've never seen Prince as particularly feminine, if he had no facial or body hair? possibly.
But he's always had that element of his masculinity present.

Just as well he's straight.

Audexia said:

West Indies/The Carribean would give anyone a run for their money in the most homophobic stakes.

[Edited 4/26/10 11:44am]

I don't think non-western countries are as exposed to western stars as we are except for Japan, and it was even less the case in the 80's/earky 90's when Prince was huge.

I didn't meet anyone in India or China who knew him, and most people hardly knew any western artist except for newbies that are heavily marketed such as Linkin' Park (!!!). Many chinese people told me last summer that they learned about Michael Jackson's existence when he died!

On the other hand one has to understand that most of non-Western countries have they own stars: for exemple, Bollywood music is very big in India, and western pop has most difficulties finding a market against it, even today.

More strange and very uncool IMO is that, while Prince maintained his legacy and media exposure in the USA, he didn't do it as much here in Europe, and i met several 20-something years-old people here in France who had absolutely no clue about who Prince was. They probably knew the song "Kiss" but didn't know who was singing it, and had never heard Prince's name. This was totally unthinkable 10 or 15 years ago when my generation was in its 20's.

Marrk said:

Sadly that's true .

NelsonR said:

That's odd.. I spoke to a group of South Africans the day after the final 21 nights gig...I was so buzzed to tell them but they'd never heard of him... Then I heard myself saying "he's like michael Jackson"
[Edited 4/26/10 23:59pm]

Marrk said:

As a person of Caribbean descent, I have to say unfortunately you are right about many parts of the Caribbean being homophobic. I also have to say I was shocked at a program I saw witnessing that type of prejudice coming from people of the Caribbean. It's due to lack of education about the LGBT community and religious beliefs, is just two of the reasons why many of them hold those prejudices, but they are all not like that, and there are also members of the LGBT community living all over the Caribbean. It's also due to religious beliefs
[Edited 4/26/10 12:26pm]

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[Edited 4/26/10 22:23pm]

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[Edited 4/27/10 6:25am]

databank said:

Yes you are right..I am from India and follow Prince's music..but I have never come across another Indian, who listens to Prince...I am not saying there arent any..even if they are, its a very small population..
But western musicians are indeed popular in India..like MJ was as popular in India as any where else..Madonna, GNR, Akon have also enjoyed immense popularity here..
But the fact is, India opened up its market to the world only in mid 90's, and since then the coverage given to western music has gone up..but that was perhaps the time, when Prince was getting more and more away from publicity..like when he was warner, his CD's used to get released here, but since then, it has been a pain to locate them..
But i do hope he would one day tour India...

Prince has never visited Africa. Ever. That's why.

I don't think many people in Africa could financially afford his tix.

i heard he went to Morocco for the filming of the video Te Amo Corazon :shurg:

but otherwise its a good question im thinking maybe its because they would not be able to relate to his image because Africa their people are very consverative and have deep faith in God so with him in Africa i dont think the people there would be able to understand him idk even if he were to promote himself there i dont think it would work well

but hes pretty much the only i guess 'black superstar; who has not been to Africa there are plenty of stars who have done concerts and have visited Africa but you never ever hear about for obivous reasons

just my

luv4u said:

Not now that he charges Barbara Streisand prices.

I know Purple Rain was pretty popular in many countries. After that - nah.

Well if he wants to be well known in Africa it might serve him to release some music and videos in countries that have an appreciation for pop and rock. From what I hear...it's mostly french music, reggae, rap, native music, and classical that get all the air play in many countries. Besides, I think Prince could give a crap. Shit I dare him to find Egypt on a map.

luv4u said:

Read a book.

luv4u said:

That's not true. There are modernized cities in Africa, with a working class. The problem with many, is they take the image the media shows of certain parts of Africa, with starving people, and think that's how everyone in Africa is living.

Here's a site showing that has some interesting images of cities in Africa:

http://www.skyscrapercity...03&page=15
[Edited 4/26/10 20:36pm]

Africa1 said:

Let's see..... political unstability, AIDs, famine, civil wars, arms dealing, corrupt governments, blood diamonds, cocoa beans, refugee camps.....

Plus .... I doubt he's well known. Does he have fans on that continent? That would be Maybe he will expand that way.

2elijah said:

even though we are all aware of Africas problems i also believe the media tends to exaggerate alot about whats going on over in the continent all you see on Western media about Africa is civil wars, AIDS, etc etc while they NEVER show you the historical African civilizations, the history, modernized buildings, houses, good families, concerts, Nollywood films etc all ran and controlled by Africans

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

YEAH! I have relatives who travel frequently to Egypt, Ivory Coast and Kenya and it's not at all like how they portray Africa on television. There are problems, serious problems on the continent but it's mostly the western countries: Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the exceptions being Darfur and Congo which have probably the worst humanitarian emergencies of the last decade.

.
[Edited 4/26/10 22:24pm]

luv4u said:

If that is all that you know about Africa...that's a shame. But, he who wins the wars and controls the media writes the history and the propaganda no matter how flawed it is. Africa is much more than that, and millions of Africans--black and white--could afford his tickets.

Still, I have always wondered why Prince has never toured Africa,

I'm sure if someone paid him enough, he'd play somewhere on the continent.