Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Celebrities React

In the wake of the trending xenophobic attacks by South Africans on Nigerians, celebrities are taking to their different social mediapages to condemn the attacks and killings.

The social media space has been agog with horrific videos of Nigerians being killed in South Africa and while some are aggrieved at the heinous crimes, others are disgruntled at the Nigerian as well as the South African government for not taking speedy and necessary action to put an end to the menace that has consumed many lives.

From actress, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, OAP Do2dtun, singers Mr Eazi and Wizkid, and influencer Noble Igwe, these are some of the reactions to the xenophobic attacks

Wizkid

Nigerian music sensation and international export took to his Twitter page to share his thoughts on the xenophobic attacks in a series of tweets.

In his first tweet, he wrote:

“Disheartening to watch these videos from my home! 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! Pls don’t lose yourself! #SayNoToXenophobia One Love.”

Adesua Etomi-Wellington

Nigerian actress, Adesua Etomi-Wellington took to her Instagram page to share her thoughts on the killings.

xenophobia

In her post, she says that she has not been able to bring herself to watch the videos of the recent attacks on Nigerians by some South Africans as her heart cannot take it. According to her, she cannot fathom why one would kill another human based on nationality while also wondering how the people that spent years oppressed have become the oppressors adding that this is not the South Africa the iconic Nelson Mandela fought for.

She then went on to call on everyone to use their voice to speak against xenophobia as everyone is from the same body. She adds that her hope is that people of influence in South Africa rise up and speak against all that is happening as evil only prevails when good men do nothing. She concluded her post by praying for the souls of the departed.

Mr Eazi

Oluwatosin Ajibade, better known by his stage name Mr Eazi is not letting his voice go unheard in the wake of the ongoing xenophobic attacks and killings in South Africa.

The singer took to his Instagram page to condemn xenophobia and opine that we have been programmed to hate ourselves even though the real enemy is the failure to address the after-effects of apartheid and bad governance.

The 'Surrender' crooner in his post also used the opportunity to warn leaders to stop using differences to divide the people and as an excuse for their incompetence.

He wrote;

"We have been programmed to Hate Ourselves! Black on Black, Tribe on Tribe & this must stop!! Leaders must stop using our differences to divide us and as an excuse for their incompetences! We must address the Real ENEMY which is the failure to address the After Effects of Apartheid & bad governance which is massive Innequality Poverty, Hunger, corruption , oppression , Economic & Mental Slavery!!! #xenophobia #StopHate."

Do2dtun

Nigerian media personality, Oladotun Ojuolape Kayode better known as Do2dtun on hs part shared that the development South Africans have is their biggest undoing because they only have infrastructure without building their minds.

The 35-year-old Cool FM Oon-air-personality is of the opinion that the black South Africans have tested their strength with white South Africans (Afrikaans) who control their economy but decided to take out their hate and aggression on other people especially Nigerians since they can’t do anything to the Afrikaans.

Sharing the image to condemn the killings and attacks, he captioned it,

“#FactsOnly This is how a typical “Myopic South African” thinks.. do we all believe @tayofaniran now… They are still at war with their souls.. Unforgiven and they never see the good in others. My heart goes out to Nigerians there.

In the wake of the recent xenophobic attacks especially the video of a Nigerian man being burnt alive, the Nigerian federal government has summoned the South African High Commissioner, Bobby Moroe, for a meeting over the attacks on Nigerians and Nigerian businesses in South Africa.

2Baba

Music legend, 2Baba who was among the first set of celebrities to react to the killings shared a dark photo and wrote:

“So shameful. I can’t comprehend it anymore #AFRICA #AFRICANGOVERNMENTS #AFRICANUNION #AFRICANLEADERS
SHAME SHAME SHAME.”

Olamide

Olamide Adedeji popularly known as Baddo posted also a photo with a message ‘Pray for Nigerians in South Africa’ using this ‘💔🇳🇬 🇿🇦’ emojis as caption.

Niniola reacting in her post saying videos of the attacks are worrisome and called on authorities to intervene. She wrote:

“God…These videos are disturbing OMG. No matter what the problem is this is not and will never be the way to solve anything…Please the authorities should intervene, these are humans…
All Lives matter 💔💔💔…How to we expect to grow if we are doing this to ourselves…”

Funke Akindele-Bello

The screen star took to her Instagram page and shared a cartoon image with the caption:

This is so sad!!! Why??? Must violence be the solution to every problem? I woke up to horrific pictures and videos of our country men being attacked and killed! This has to stop o!!!!! We all are out there hustling to put food on our tables! Why the killings. I appeal to the Nigerian Government to SEE TO THE IMMEDIATE END of this. All lives matter!!! #saynotoxenophobia

Tiwa Savage

On her part, the music diva decided to cancel her scheduled performance. Tiwa Savage was billed to perform in South Africa on September 21 at the upcoming DSTV delicious Festival in Johannesburg. She tweeted:

"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 21st of September. My prayers are with all the victims and families affected by this."

Seyi Shay

The "Murda" crooner reminded South Africans that they have once been victims themselves and urging the killings to stop.

"Excuse me, but why are we killing our selves again!?? As if SOUTH AFRICANS don’t know what it feels like to be victims themselves.. We are one! Stop killing our own! Las las send them back to where they came from!! Blood shed/ xenophobia is NOT the answer. #SayNoToXenophobia"

Genevieve Nnaji

'Lionheart' actress, Genevieve Nnaji wrote:

"A life with us isn’t the worse thing. They need to see one without us.📌 They’ve shown us countless times who they are. Let’s believe them. It’s time to show them who we are. But most importantly, it’s time we believed in ourselves. They see our potential; our greatness. We need to see it too. It’s tough out here I know, but sooner than later we’ll have to realize it’s all we’ve got. We have to make sure our energy and resources are beneficial to all things Her🇳🇬. We can’t ignore the signs much longer. Change is inevitable. Let us stay 💯 ahead of it. #LongliveNigeria ✊🏿❤️"

This post is being updated as more celebrities react.