South Africa's Consul-General in Nigeria, Prof Bobby Moroe, has dismissed suggestions that Afrobeats star Ayra Starr was blocked from entering the country over her status, explaining that the actual issue dated back to February 2024 and centred on a paperwork error.
Speaking in a recent interview, Moroe said Starr's team had submitted a yellow fever certificate issued by another country instead of one from Nigeria, which is what South African immigration rules require. He noted the story only resurfaced recently, long after the matter had been settled and Starr granted a one-year visa to perform in the country later that year.
The envoy pushed back against claims that South Africa had quietly shut its doors to Nigerian travellers, insisting decisions are guided strictly by documentation, not by who the applicant is. He stressed that fame offers no shortcut and that every applicant, regardless of nationality or celebrity status, must meet the same standard.
Moroe also pointed to numbers that undercut the idea of a clampdown: monthly visa applications from Nigerians have climbed from an average of 40 to 60 in previous years to between 60 and 80 now.
As if to underline the point, the South African Consulate in Lagos issued visas to five Nigerian DJs this week for an upcoming event abroad, among them Solomon Akinkunmi, who confirmed the approvals directly.
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