‘Never say never' — Jack Parow speaks on refugee status amid European success

The Citizen

20-05-2025

Despite having enough audience outside the country to host a European festival, Jack Parow doesn't see himself leaving SA anytime soon.
Rapper Jack Parow says he has no plans of leaving SA. Picture: jackparow
Despite having enough audience outside the country to host a festival every two years in Europe, rap artist Jack Parow doesn't see himself seeking asylum anytime soon.
'No, I love South Africa too much. I'm South African through and through,' Jack Parow told The Citizen.
'I love going there, it's really fun, but I'll never… I love South Africa, it's in my blood. You know, never say never, but there's definitely no plan of doing something like that.'
A group of 59 white South Africans recently landed in the US after being granted refugee status by the Donald Trump administration.
After the 59 landed in the US, Parow joked in an Instagram post that brandy sales shot up in the US because of the presence of 59 Afrikaners.
'I'm definitely not applying for a refugee status,' says the rapper in laughter.
In 2017, Jack Parow hosted his first festival in the Netherlands — Parow Fest. This four-hour extravaganza featured some of the biggest Dutch hip-hop and rap artists performing with Jack in a sold-out venue in Utrecht.
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The Parowfest
Parow, whose real name is Zander Tyler, said the idea of the Parowfest came from his booking agency after they realised that he has an audience that always attends his gigs when he tours the Netherlands.
'It's been incredible. We've done five of them, I think…they've all been sold out, and it's been really incredible.'
The Parowfest happens every two years, but he tours Europe annually.
'One year we do festival tours, and then I do a Parowfest every second year. It's just to be able to do both, obviously if I'm doing my own big festival there every second year it's about not wanting to do too many other festivals and stuff like that because we want to push everyone to one place,' said the rapper.
The growth of an audience outside of South Africa has led to some saying he is bigger in Europe than in Mzansi, but he disputes this.
'I can't really say I'm bigger in Europe than I am here,' he says.
'I think you're always bigger in the country you live in because you're constantly pushing. Here (SA) I'm very lucky to still also do very well,' he shares, adding that he does about two shows a week throughout the year.
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Africa Rising Music Conference
Parow is part of the fifth edition of the Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC), which will take place this Thursday and Friday at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg.
The programme includes workshops and discussions that reflect the evolving landscape of the music industry.
Themed 'A Space for Every Voice', this year's confirmed artists and music industry veterans include Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Msaki, Gigi Lamayne, Rethabile Khumalo and singer-songwriter Manana.
'I definitely try as much as I can to be part of these things. I love these conferences, and I don't think we have enough of them. It's good to be able to share insight and knowledge about the industry with people who are looking for that or who are new in the industry,' said Jack Parow.
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