South African singer Tyla has called for a united Africa at the South African Music Awards, weeks after facing criticism in Nigeria over her silence on xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa. DownloadingInteractive Geographic Maps
The singer made the remarks while speaking at the awards ceremony over the weekend, where she expressed pride in her South African roots while highlighting her wider African identity.
In a video circulating online, Tyla said, “And I am just so happy to be South African. I’m happy to be African most of all.”
She then shared her hope for greater unity across the continent, adding, “I pray one day to see a unified Africa. It’s so important.”
Her comments come after she faced criticism from Nigerians over her response to reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The backlash intensified in July when several Nigerians, including entertainers, campaigned against her planned Lagos concert.
Critics accused the singer of failing to use her international platform to speak against attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners in her home country.
Following the controversy, Tyla cancelled her scheduled Lagos show.
Tyla’s prayer for a “unified Africa” comes at a time when tensions over xenophobia continue to challenge relations between African communities across national borders.
