South Africa’s government has challenged claims that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied visas to enter the country, demanding evidence as a diplomatic row with Nigeria deepened over the treatment of Nigerian and South African performers.
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 team. He asked those making the allegation to provide the names of the individuals involved and their visa application reference numbers so the claim could be investigated.
The dispute centers on reports that Ayra Starr and her team were denied visas in February 2024 ahead of planned performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town, forcing the shows’ cancellation. Concert organizer Steyn Entertainment attributed the cancellations at the time to difficulty securing travel documents, and refunds were issued to ticket holders.
The claims resurfaced this week after South African singer Tyla removed a planned December 22 concert in Lagos from her “A*POP” world tour schedule, following a boycott campaign by Nigerians angered over renewed reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa. Neither Tyla nor her management has publicly explained the change.
The controversy has spilled into politics. Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called on the government to apply “the principle of reciprocity” against South African performers if the Ayra Starr visa denial is confirmed, and separately urged authorities to bar Tyla from entering Nigeria. Ayra Starr had not publicly responded to South Africa’s request for evidence as of the time of reporting.
The row comes despite years of cultural exchange between the two countries’ music industries, with Nigerian stars including Wizkid, Burna Boy and Tems having collaborated with South African artists, and South Africa’s amapiano sound gaining wide popularity in Nigeria.
