Entertainment
Xenophobia: Tiwa Savage, Basket Mouth Boycott Shows In South Africa …As Other Celebrities Condemn Attack On Nigerians
Superstar singer, Tiwa Savage has pulled out of her upcoming performance in South Africa following the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.
It w as gathered that since Monday, mobs have been looting shops and burning cars driven by foreigners, especially Nigerians in various parts of South Africa.
Reacting to the attacks, Tiwa, who was billed to perform at the DStv delicious festival on September 21 announced that she was boycotting the show in protest.
On Twitter @tiwasavage, she wrote: “I refuse to watch the barbaric butchering of my people in SA. This is sick.
“For this reason I will not be performing at the upcoming DStv delicious Festival in Johannesburg on the September 21st.
“My prayers are with all the victims and families affected by this.”
According to The Tide source, mixed reactions have trailed her announcement. While she has received massive support for her bold decision, some fans have continued to troll the singer.
She noted that she was boycotting the show, not just for Nigerians killed, but for other foreigners that have suffered xenophobic attacks.
She said: “Killing any one that is African are my people whether they are Nigerians or not.”
Meanwhile, comedian Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth, has also cancelled his appearance at the upcoming Comic Choice Awards in South Africa.
He made the announcement via his Instagram page @basketmouth, he wrote: “I am not sure how and when we got here.
“I won’t be attending the Comic Choice Awards this weekend in South Africa as scheduled.
“It might sound like a whisper but together, our voices and the right actions will make a true difference and real change can begin. But for today, together we stand.”
The Tide gathered that as conversations around the attacks continue, more Nigerian celebrities are using their influence to speak against xenophobia.
Popular Nigerian celebrities, including Omotola Jalade, Banky W, Funke Akindele, Peter Okoye among others, have condemned the recurrent attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
Viral videos last Monday showed widespread attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa.
The new wave of attacks saw the killing of Nigerians and burning of shops and businesses owned by Africans.
The President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa (NUSA), Adetola Olubajo who confirmed the development said last Monday that the attacks began last Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set ablaze by an angry mob.
The attacks and killings have since stirred reactions from Nigerian celebrities calling on the government to take drastic measures against the South African government.
Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade Wrote:
“Hmmm… I have had to think very deeply and try to calm myself down to even get to writing this. I am shaking and still can’t collate all my thoughts …This is Really Sad. It’s beyond. Xenophobia. It’s deep. What is the Value of a Nigerian life! Nigeria Rise up how you have fallen?”
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”