The South African government has denied reports that Nigerian music star Ayra Starr and members of her team were refused visas, insisting that its immigration authorities have no record of any application or rejection linked to the singer.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, said officials were unaware of any visa request submitted by Ayra Starr or her entourage. He urged those making the allegations to provide the names of the applicants and their visa reference numbers to enable authorities investigate the claims.
Moroe’s comments followed growing calls by some Nigerian political leaders for the Federal Government to adopt a reciprocal visa policy against South African entertainers if it is confirmed that Ayra Starr was denied entry into the country.
Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have both urged the government to respond firmly should evidence emerge that the singer’s visa application was unfairly rejected.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that if Ayra Starr and her team were indeed denied visas, resulting in the cancellation of scheduled performances, Nigeria should consider applying similar measures against South African artistes until Nigerians receive equal treatment.
The controversy dates back to February 2024 when Ayra Starr was scheduled to perform in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The concerts were eventually cancelled after organisers, Steyn Entertainment, announced that visa issues prevented the singer and her team from travelling.
In a statement at the time, the company’s Managing Director, Dale De Ruig, expressed disappointment, saying the visas were denied despite every effort to secure approval. The organisers apologised to fans and promised full refunds for purchased tickets.
However, Moroe maintained that South African immigration authorities had no record of such an application, stressing that documentary evidence would be required before the matter could be verified.
Attempts by journalists to obtain Ayra Starr’s reaction were unsuccessful, as an email sent to an address linked to her official Instagram account had not received a response.
Tyla Removes Lagos from Tour
The diplomatic disagreement has also affected South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla, who has quietly removed Lagos from the itinerary of her upcoming world tour.
Tyla had earlier announced plans to stage a concert in Lagos on December 22, which would have marked her first headline performance in Nigeria. However, the announcement sparked widespread criticism from many Nigerians who accused the singer of remaining silent over repeated xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
Public anger intensified following reports of the killing of Nigerian national Chika Ibe in Cape Town, with many social media users questioning why Tyla had not spoken out.
Several Nigerian personalities, including activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, media personality Do2dtun and author Solomon Buchi, opposed the planned concert. An online petition calling for Tyla to be barred from performing in Nigeria until attacks on Nigerians ceased also attracted thousands of signatures.
A review of Tyla’s official tour schedule later showed that the Lagos concert had been removed, although performances in Europe, North America and South Africa remained listed. Neither the singer nor her management has explained the decision.
The removal of Lagos from Tyla’s tour schedule further inflamed tensions online, with some South African social media users posting hostile messages against Nigerians.
Several posts called for Nigerians living in South Africa to leave the country, while others argued that Nigerian musicians should no longer perform in South Africa. Some users also justified their comments by accusing Nigerians of illegal immigration and criminal activities, prompting renewed concerns over rising anti-Nigerian sentiments.
Former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, described Tyla’s decision to cancel the Lagos concert as unsurprising given the strained diplomatic relations between both countries.
He warned that cultural exchanges could expose participants to security risks and urged both governments to resolve their differences through dialogue. Akinkuolie also renewed calls for South Africa to compensate Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during previous xenophobic attacks.
He added that Nigeria could consider stronger diplomatic measures if South Africa fails to adequately address the concerns, while also advocating legal action through international institutions to discourage future attacks on foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has renewed its demand for compensation for Nigerians affected by xenophobic violence in South Africa and called for the full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism designed to prevent future attacks.
A senior source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria expects South Africa to move beyond promises by activating the agreement to ensure better protection for foreign nationals.
The source added that compensation for Nigerians who lost lives, property and businesses remains a key demand as diplomatic engagements between the two countries continue.
The latest development follows high-level talks initiated after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa directed his Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to visit Abuja for discussions with the Nigerian government.
Although President Bola Tinubu did not personally receive the delegation, the meeting later proceeded through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, following consultations between both presidents.
