South Africa has denied claims that Nigerian music star Ayra Starr and members of her team were refused visas, challenging those behind the allegation to provide evidence, as Grammy-winning singer Tyla removed Lagos from her 2026 world tour schedule.
According to Saturday PUNCH, 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.
Moroe urged those making the allegations to submit the names of the affected persons and their visa application reference numbers for verification.
“The immigration said they were not aware of the application or the rejection. What will assist us is if the people making these allegations send us the names and reference numbers of Ayra Starr and her team so we can double-check,” he said.
The controversy follows calls by former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for Nigeria to apply the principle of reciprocity to South African visa applications if it is confirmed that Ayra Starr was previously denied entry.
The claims relate to February 2024, when organisers of Ayra Starr’s Johannesburg and Cape Town concerts, Steyn Entertainment, announced that the performances had been cancelled after visas for the singer and her team were allegedly denied.
Efforts by Saturday PUNCH to obtain a response from Ayra Starr were unsuccessful.
Tyla removes Lagos from tour
Amid the diplomatic tensions, Tyla quietly removed her scheduled December 22 Lagos concert from her official world tour itinerary.
The Lagos performance would have been the South African star’s first headline show in Nigeria. However, the announcement sparked criticism from some Nigerians over her silence on repeated xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The backlash intensified after reports of the death of Nigerian national Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
Some public figures and online campaigners called for Tyla’s performance to be cancelled, while an online petition opposing the concert gathered thousands of signatures.
Although the Lagos date has disappeared from Tyla’s official schedule, neither the singer nor her management has explained the decision.
The move triggered hostile exchanges on social media, with some South African users calling for Nigerians to leave the country and demanding retaliation against Nigerian artistes.
Former envoy urges caution
Former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, said the cancellation was unsurprising given the strained relationship between both countries.
He argued that cultural exchanges should be suspended until tensions ease and called on South Africa to compensate Nigerians who lost lives, businesses and property during xenophobic attacks.
Akinkuolie also suggested Nigeria could consider stronger diplomatic measures if the situation remains unresolved.
Nigeria seeks compensation
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has renewed its demand for compensation for Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
A Foreign Affairs Ministry source told Saturday PUNCH that Nigeria also wants South Africa to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism aimed at preventing future attacks on foreign nationals.
The development follows recent diplomatic engagements after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dispatched a delegation led by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola to Abuja to address the crisis.
