As concerns mount over recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, multimedia journalist, author and media consultant Kemi Yesufu has backed calls for Nigerian music fans to boycott South African singer Tyla’s scheduled A-Pop concert in Lagos this December.
Yesufu criticised what she described as the silence of some prominent South African celebrities over the attacks, arguing that their failure to publicly condemn the violence amounts to indifference.
“I am in support of the call for music fans to boycott South African musician Tyla’s A-Pop tour scheduled for Lagos in December,” she said.
She also criticised comedian Trevor Noah, accusing him of remaining silent on the violence while promoting South Africa as a tourism destination.
“As with Trevor Noah, Tyla has been silent on the violence unleashed on Nigerians and other Black foreigners in South Africa. Rather than maintain a dignified silence, Trevor, who I see as intelligent and self-aware, suddenly started promoting South African tourism,” Yesufu said.
The journalist acknowledged being a fan of Tyla’s music but maintained that entertainment should not overshadow concerns about the safety of Africans living in South Africa.
“I love Tyla’s music, and I managed to congratulate her on her Grammy wins despite Nigerian acts losing out twice,” she noted.
Reflecting on her recent purchase of Trevor Noah’s autobiography, Born a Crime, Yesufu said she was yet to be impressed by the book despite recommendations from friends.
She compared it with other autobiographies she found more compelling, including Andre Agassi’s Open and The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written with Alex Haley.
Despite advocating diplomacy in Nigeria’s response to tensions with South Africa, Yesufu argued that boycotting Tyla’s concert would serve as a peaceful but powerful statement.
“While I see the wisdom of Nigeria showing its celebrated sophistication by going high while South Africa is going low, I believe a boycott of Tyla’s show will send a strong message,” she said.
“Nigeria may be liberal and accommodating to the world, and most especially Africa, but we certainly are no fools who are okay with our brothers and sisters being attacked and killed.”
South Africa has witnessed repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence over the past two decades, with foreign nationals, particularly migrants from other African countries, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Ethiopia, often targeted during attacks. The violence has resulted in deaths, injuries, destruction of businesses and the displacement of hundreds of migrants.
Successive Nigerian governments have condemned the attacks, while civil society organisations have repeatedly called on South African authorities to protect foreign nationals and prosecute perpetrators. The incidents have periodically strained diplomatic relations between Africa’s two largest economies.
The latest calls for a boycott of Tyla’s Lagos concert come amid renewed public outrage over reports of attacks on foreign Africans in South Africa and growing demands for influential South African public figures to speak out against xenophobia. #Securitynewsalert.com
