The South African government has denied claims that Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied entry visas, even as Grammy-winning singer Tyla quietly removed Lagos from her world tour schedule amid rising diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa.
South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, said immigration authorities had no record of any visa application or rejection involving Ayra Starr or her entourage, challenging those making the allegations to provide documentary evidence.
According to Moroe, officials would investigate the matter if those behind the claims submitted the names of the affected persons alongside their visa application reference numbers.
His comments followed renewed calls by former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for Nigeria to review visa applications submitted by South African artistes under the principle of reciprocity.
The controversy stems from February 2024, when organisers cancelled Ayra Starr’s concerts in Johannesburg and Cape Town, citing visa denials despite efforts to secure travel documents for the singer and her team.
However, South African authorities insist they have no official record of such applications or rejections.
Music star Tyla
The diplomatic dispute deepened after Tyla removed Lagos from her world tour schedule. The December 22 concert was expected to be her first headline show in Nigeria but sparked criticism from Nigerians over her perceived silence on xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
By Friday, Lagos had disappeared from Tyla’s official tour itinerary, although other international tour dates remained unchanged. Neither the singer nor her management has publicly explained the decision.
South Africa’s Consul-General said the mission had not received any formal communication from the concert organisers regarding the change but maintained that diplomatic relations between both countries remained cordial.
The Federal Government has also renewed its call for compensation for Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks while urging South Africa to fully implement the bilateral Early Warning Mechanism aimed at preventing future violence.
Former diplomat Rasheed Akinkuolie said cultural exchanges between both countries should be handled cautiously until tensions subside, adding that lasting diplomatic solutions remain necessary to protect citizens and preserve bilateral relations.
