Visa denial threatens to ruin Champion Likdul’s global dream

What the report says

Abdul Malik, known professionally as Likdul, has won Uganda’s first Red Bull Dance Your Style national title and was set to represent the country at the World Final in Zurich, Switzerland, according to Sqoop Uganda. He earned the berth after defeating MICO Styles in a national final held at Motiv in Kampala, giving him a chance to compete on a major international stage.

That opportunity is now in doubt after Swiss authorities refused his visa, despite what the article says was an official introduction letter and invitation from Red Bull. Sqoop Uganda reported that Likdul is trying to sort out the problem from Kenya and has publicly appealed for help, saying the refusal came with unclear reasons. The report also says he had stopped working to focus fully on preparing for the final.

The case highlights both a personal setback for a young dancer and a broader challenge for African creatives seeking access to global competitions. Red Bull Dance Your Style is a freestyle contest where dancers improvise and the audience decides the winner, making Likdul’s qualification a significant achievement for Uganda’s street-dance scene. If the visa issue is not resolved, he could miss the event he qualified for through his performance.