'This is sick' - Nigerian artist Tiwa Savage pulls out of Delicious Festival over xenophobia
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Image: Daniele Venturelli/Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
Award-winning Nigerian artist Tiwa Savage has announced that she will no longer be coming to SA later this month in protest over the xenophobic attacks erupting across SA.
TimesLIVE reported how widespread looting and violence erupted across various parts of SA as locals and foreigners clashed.
Over 180 people were arrested in Gauteng, with the Nigerian government summoning SA's envoy and saying it would dispatch a special delegation to Pretoria to discuss the attacks on Nigerians.
Tiwa took to Twitter on Tuesday to slam the alleged "barbaric butchering" of Nigerians in SA.
Listen | What Police Minister General Bheki Cele plans to do about violent looting in Gauteng
The artist, who was set to perform at the upcoming DStv Delicious Festival in Johannesburg on September 21 said she would not longer perform in SA.
"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 21. My prayers are with all the victims and families affected by this."
Other Nigerian artists including Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy have also expressed their anger over the violence and called on Nigerians not to retaliate.
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.
— Tiwa Savage (@TiwaSavage) September 4, 2019
Attempts by TshisaLIVE to get comment from DStv Delicious Festival's representatives were not successful at the time of publishing this article.
Tiwa's decision comes just hours after another Nigerian artist Burna Boy claimed he would never visit SA again and had experienced xenophobia himself during a visit here previously.
Social media was abuzz with reaction to Tiwa's decision.
You are a National treasure!!! God bless you queen 👸❤ pic.twitter.com/HdELOfA60F
— Muyiwa (@Mussprince_seal) September 4, 2019
No one has butchered your people but it’s fine. Thanks for taking a stand.
— notyetuhuru (@ThusoMatsobane) September 4, 2019
The poor aren’t stressed about Burna Boy & Tiwa not coming to SA. They have different kinds of problems... let’s also not let our privilege create fake outrage... let’s admit when we’re too privileged to grasp the plight of the economic class that these xenophobic attacks affect.
— Olwethu Leshabane (@Olwe2Lesh) September 4, 2019
Tiwa savage is acting like her performance will make a huge impact in South Africa stay there asikudingi sesster pic.twitter.com/8BJlNavh39
— ️B A K E R🇿🇦 (@ReginaldBaker88) September 4, 2019
Guys who is this Tiwa Savage? She related to 21 Savage? pic.twitter.com/yaJsTC6TN8
— Cam'ron Troy (@KingKilla013) September 4, 2019
South Africans claiming they don't care if Tiwa perform or not, hope y'all remember that we're still the king of Afro pop and y'all can't do without Nigerian Music.
— Olánrewájú 👑 (@Ogbeni_alaka) September 4, 2019
So you’re referring to the 5 South Africans that were reported dead during the looting? Please just fix your previous tweet, cos spreading fake news causes more harm
— fat gal (@ThickLeeyonce) September 4, 2019
How else can you define patriotism?
— Onyemaobi Prince☆ (@OnyemaobiPrince) September 4, 2019
I love you TIWA for this. https://t.co/NfDJgZ4NRo
In reaction to claims that no Nigerians were killed in the violence, Tiwa said the death of any African should be condemned.
Killing any one that is African are my people whether they are Nigerians or not https://t.co/Az0ulzcKdx
— Tiwa Savage (@TiwaSavage) September 4, 2019
I’m not in support of drug dealing nor am I in support of killing. The solution to fighting drug crime is not killing my dear brother https://t.co/j9R55aCPKD
— Tiwa Savage (@TiwaSavage) September 4, 2019
But yet I was booked to perform at the festival. This is a serious issue were NO ONE wins when blood is shed whether old videos or not. Issue needs to be resolved. We Africans (including South Africans) need each other https://t.co/PMzAmorvky
— Tiwa Savage (@TiwaSavage) September 4, 2019
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Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.