Tiwa Savage cancels SA gig amid xenophobic attacks

Since Monday, rioters and looters have targeted foreigners and their businesses across Johannesburg and Pretoria. Foreign-owned shops have been looted and set alight. At least five people have been killed and dozens injured.

“I refuse to watch the barbaric butchering of my people in South Africa,” Tiwa Savage wrote on Twitter. “This is sick. For this reason, I will not be performing at the upcoming DStv Delicious Festival in Johannesburg on 21 September. My prayers are with all the victims and families affected by this.”

Burna Boy, who is supposed to perform at Afropunk Festival in Johannesburg on 30 and 31 December, also took Twitter to announce his displeasure with the situation in South Africa.

“I have not set foot in South Africa since 2017,” Burna Boy wrote on Twitter. “And I will not ever go to South Africa again for any reason until the South African government wakes the f*ck up and really performs a miracle because I don’t know how they can even possibly fix this.

“But today after watching the killing of my people in South Africa the same way we have all watched it happen a few times in the past. F*ck all that! I personally have had my own xenophobic experiences at the hands of South Africans.”

Another Nigerian artist, Wizkid, also voiced his concerns on social media. “Disheartening to watch these videos from my home,” he said. “You’re fighting the wrong war, fighting the wrong people. How do we walk around hating each other? Africa is one! We’re all the same people. Please don’t lose yourself! #SayNoToXenophobia One Love.”

But South African gqom artist Babes Wodumo seems to be supporting the violence against foreigners. “Africa is one yama simba [nonsense], Nigerians must go. Kumanje [right now] women are forced into prostitution kwi [on] Instagram," she tweeted.

She also wrote: “Nigerians need to leave South Africa. Everything would be smooth without them.”

In response to Babes Wodumo, Nigerian musician Yemi Alade said: “You don't deserve any love from Africa as a whole. You are a big disappointment to yourself. To encourage negativity and violence in troubled times like this when Africans need to unite. You need a brain reset and a ban from going to any African country.”

Popular South African rapper Cassper Nyovest said: “There's so much going on. I don't even know where to start but my country, it's women and children are disappearing by the day. Our fellow African brothers are being killed and some people are justifying it. It's scary, sad and it's wrong. Something needs to happen.”

Meanwhile, Mlindo the Vocalist says he is worried about performing in Zimbabwe at the weekend. “I’m supposed to travel to Zimbabwe this weekend, but I fear for my life since I am South African. My country is doing so much harm to our brothers and sisters I have no choice but to wonder what lies in another African country as an African,” he said.