Activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore has dismissed calls opposing an upcoming concert in Lagos featuring South African Grammy Award-winning vocalist, Tyla.
A segment of Nigerians has voiced discontent after the artist included Lagos among the destinations on her tour, following the debut of her latest album, A-Pop.
Based on feedback across social platforms, their opposition stems from the xenophobic assaults endured by Nigerian citizens at the hands of South Africans. Especially how Ayra Starr and her team were denied entry visas by South African authoritie from performing at her sold out show in South Africa.
Following the March and March demonstrations by South Africans directed at black foreign nationals, hundreds of Nigerians have been repatriated by the Federal Government.
The violence and destruction of assets triggered outcry from numerous Nigerians, including Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, who recounted how a Nigerian lost his life due to anti-foreigner hostility.
He shared on X, “I just watched a secretly recorded video of a Nigerian national being beaten to death by members of the South African police force in his home and I am mortified. The video is online.
“I listened to the young man’s screams as they put a plastic bag over his head and tortured him and I was badly shaken.
“The vilification, persecution, targeting, extra-judicial killing, racial stereotyping and murder of Nigerians in South Africa is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Also see: Nigerians Resist Tyla’s Tour In Nigeria Amid Xenophobic Attacks
“Neither will we continue to be complicit in these crimes against our nationals by remaining silent in the face of them.
“That is the new order and I made my position clear on this at our meeting with the South African Foreign Minister yesterday. The hate needs to stop.”
Despite appeals for composure from the Nigerian administration, young people online are searching for a strategy to retaliate against South Africa for the harsh treatment inflicted upon Nigerians. Tyla’s planned performance appears to be viewed as the ideal opportunity to convey a stance to South Africa regarding the treatment of foreign nationals.
Nevertheless, Sowore maintains that Nigerians ought to focus their frustration on their actual adversaries, “the leaders like @officialabat along its @OfficialAPCNg party who destroyed our country, reduced our people to second-class citizens across Africa and the rest of the world and the irresponsible South African leaders like @CyrilRamaphosa whose failures helped create the conditions for xenophobic violence.
“No one should hold a talented musician like @Tyllaaaaaaa vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia. Artistes are not responsible for the failures of politicians except where there is ample evidence they’re enablers.”
