South Africa has dismissed claims that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied visas to enter the country, saying there is no official record of any visa application or rejection linked to the Afrobeats star.
The clarification comes as Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla quietly removed her scheduled December 22 concert in Lagos from her world tour itinerary, amid renewed diplomatic tensions and public criticism over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, said immigration authorities could not find any record showing that Ayra Starr or her entourage applied for South African visas.
According to him, anyone claiming the singer was denied entry should provide the names of those involved and their visa application reference numbers to enable the authorities investigate the allegation.
Moroe stated that immigration officials were unaware of any application or rejection but assured that the matter would be reviewed if sufficient details were provided.
The controversy follows calls by notable Nigerians, including former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, urging the Federal Government to adopt reciprocal measures against South African entertainers if it is confirmed that Ayra Starr was unfairly denied visas.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that Nigeria should respond with similar visa restrictions until Nigerian citizens and entertainers are treated fairly in South Africa.
The visa dispute dates back to February 2024 when Ayra Starr’s planned concerts in Johannesburg and Cape Town were cancelled. At the time, organisers, Steyn Entertainment, blamed the cancellations on visa challenges, claiming South African authorities denied visas to the singer and her team despite repeated efforts to secure approval.
The organisers apologised to fans, insisting the situation was beyond the control of the artiste.
Ayra Starr has yet to publicly respond to the latest development, while enquiries sent to her official contact had not been answered as of the time of filing this report.
Tyla Removes Lagos Concert
Meanwhile, Tyla has removed Lagos from the list of cities on her world tour only days after announcing plans to perform in Nigeria during the December holiday season.
A review of the singer’s official tour schedule shows that the Lagos stop has been deleted, while all other scheduled performances across Europe, North America and South Africa remain unchanged.
Neither Tyla nor her management has explained why the Lagos show was withdrawn.
The decision comes after widespread criticism from Nigerians who accused the singer of remaining silent over repeated attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.
The backlash intensified following reports of the killing of Nigerian national Chika Ibe in Cape Town, prompting calls on social media for Tyla’s concert to be cancelled. An online petition urging Nigerian authorities to deny the singer entry into the country also gained significant support.
The controversy further triggered heated exchanges online, with some South African social media users making inflammatory remarks against Nigerians and calling for retaliatory measures against Nigerian entertainers.
Nigeria–South Africa Relations
Addressing reports surrounding Tyla’s cancelled Lagos concert, Prof. Moroe said the South African mission had not received any official notification from the event organisers.
He noted that while officials had seen reports circulating on social media, there was no formal communication confirming the cancellation.
Despite the recent controversies, the envoy maintained that diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa remain cordial.
He added that recent engagements between the governments of both countries, including discussions involving President Bola Tinubu and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, demonstrate a shared commitment to resolving differences and strengthening bilateral ties.
