Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr’s long standing visa controversy with South Africa has taken a fresh turn after the South African Consul General to Nigeria, Professor Bobby Moroe, disclosed why the singer was initially denied a visa in 2024.
According to Moroe, the visa rejection had nothing to do with Ayra Starr’s celebrity status or her nationality. Instead, he said the singer’s team submitted an inappropriate yellow fever certificate during the visa application process.
The diplomat made the clarification in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, explaining that the incident occurred in February 2024 and was therefore not a recent development as some reports had suggested. He said the issue resurfaced after reports emerged alleging that Ayra Starr and members of her team had been denied South African visas...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Moroe explained that one of the problems with the application was that the yellow fever certificate submitted by the singer’s team was issued by another country, rather than Nigeria, which he said was required under the applicable immigration rules.
The Consul General said South African officials subsequently engaged with Ayra Starr’s team to explain the requirements and resolve the matter. According to him, the issue was eventually settled amicably, after which the singer and her team were granted a one year visa to travel to South Africa for performances in 2024.
The clarification comes after Ayra Starr’s planned performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town were cancelled in February 2024 amid reports that the singer and her team had encountered difficulties obtaining their visas. The development generated significant attention at the time and later became part of a wider conversation about the treatment of Nigerian entertainers seeking to perform in South Africa.
Moroe, however, insisted that the South African immigration authorities do not give preferential treatment to celebrities and that every applicant is expected to satisfy the necessary requirements before a visa can be issued.
He maintained that an applicant’s fame, nationality or social status does not determine the outcome of a visa application. In his view, applicants who meet the stipulated requirements are granted visas, while those who fail to satisfy the requirements are subject to the country’s immigration laws.
The diplomat also rejected claims that South Africa had stopped issuing visas to Nigerians. He described such reports as false and maintained that Nigerian applicants continue to receive visas when they fulfil the required conditions.
According to Moroe, the number of visa applications from Nigerians has actually increased. He disclosed that applications which previously averaged between 40 and 60 per month had risen to between 60 and 80 monthly.
The revelation comes at a time when relations between Nigeria and South Africa have attracted renewed public attention, particularly over issues affecting Nigerian entertainers and other citizens travelling between the two countries.
The Ayra Starr visa controversy had previously triggered calls from some Nigerian political figures for reciprocal measures against South African entertainers travelling to Nigeria. The debate became particularly heated amid renewed concerns about the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa and reports of xenophobic incidents.
However, Moroe’s latest explanation presents a different account of the circumstances surrounding Ayra Starr’s visa issue. Rather than being targeted because she was Nigerian or because of her public profile, the envoy said the initial rejection was linked to documentation submitted during the application.
He further suggested that the matter had already been resolved and that the singer was subsequently able to secure the necessary visa to perform in South Africa.
The development has therefore added another layer to the debate, with attention now shifting towards the documentation submitted during the original application and the circumstances that led to the misunderstanding.
For Ayra Starr, who has continued to expand her international career and perform before audiences across the world, the controversy represents another chapter in the relationship between African entertainment and international travel regulations.
The incident also serves as a reminder that even high profile artists are expected to comply with immigration and public health requirements when travelling internationally. Visa applications can involve several documents, and failure to provide the correct documentation can result in delays or rejection regardless of the applicant’s profile.
With the South African government now providing its explanation of what happened in 2024, the controversy surrounding Ayra Starr’s visa has taken a new direction. The issue, according to the envoy, was ultimately resolved, while South Africa continues to insist that it remains open to Nigerian travellers who meet the required immigration conditions.
The latest clarification could help ease some of the tensions surrounding the incident, although the wider debate over Nigeria South Africa relations and the treatment of citizens and entertainers from both countries is likely to continue.
