When concert promoter Dale De Ruig announced in February 2024 that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr would no longer perform in Johannesburg and Cape Town, he blamed visa problems. “Visas were denied despite exploring every avenue possible,” the Steyn Entertainment chief executive said, adding that similar issues had affected other West African artistes trying to perform in South Africa.
However, South African officials have given a different account.
South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof Bobby Moroe, said immigration records showed no sign that Ayra Starr or her team had applied for visas or had any applications rejected.
“The immigration said they were not aware of the application or the rejection,” Moroe said on Friday. He asked those making the claims to provide official records. “What will assist us is if the people who are making these allegations will send us the names and reference numbers… so that we can double-check.”
Despite this, the claims quickly sparked political reactions in Nigeria. Some lawmakers saw the alleged visa denial as another sign of the difficult relationship between the two countries.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called on the Federal Government to take similar action against South African artistes seeking entry into Nigeria. “If it is confirmed that our Nigerian artiste Ayra Starr and her team were previously denied entry visas… then Nigeria should respond with equivalent measures,” she said. Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole also supported the call.
The dispute soon spread beyond politics and into the entertainment industry.
When South African Grammy winner Tyla announced a Lagos concert as part of her world tour, some Nigerians criticised the move because of the ongoing diplomatic tensions and past xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
A few days later, the December 22 Lagos concert was removed from Tyla’s official tour schedule, while shows in Europe, North America, Cape Town and Johannesburg remained.