South Africa's Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof Bobby Moroe, has finally clarified the reasons behind Nigerian singer Ayra Starr's visa denial, attributing the incident to a documentation error rather than any bias against the artist or her nationality. The revelation comes amid renewed public interest and controversy surrounding the February 2024 rejection.
Documentation Error Led to Visa Rejection
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Moroe explained that the visa application was denied because Ayra Starr's team submitted a yellow fever certificate from the wrong country. Applicants are required to present a yellow fever certificate issued by their home country, but the team presented one from a different nation, leading to the refusal.
"One of the challenges was that they did not submit an appropriate yellow fever certificate. They submitted the yellow fever certificate of another country when they were supposed to submit the yellow fever certificate of their home country," Moroe stated.
No Celebrity Bias in Visa Process
Moroe emphasized that the rejection had nothing to do with Ayra Starr's celebrity status or her Nigerian nationality. He stressed that all visa applicants are assessed strictly against immigration requirements, regardless of their public profile. This clarification aims to dispel speculation that the singer was targeted unfairly.
The Consul-General also noted that the controversy resurfaced recently after media reports alleged that the singer and her team had been refused entry visas. This prompted the South African mission to engage directly with her representatives to address the issue.
Visa Later Granted After Correction
According to Moroe, the matter was resolved amicably after the documentation issue was corrected. Ayra Starr was subsequently granted a one-year visa and traveled to South Africa to perform in 2024. "Subsequently, the matter was resolved amicably and they were granted a one-year visa to go and perform in South Africa in 2024, and I think that was what they forgot to mention," he added.
Ayra Starr's Recent Achievements
This clarification comes as Ayra Starr celebrates a major milestone in her career. Legit.ng reported that her latest album, 'Year I Turned 21', achieved 375 million cumulative streams across major platforms within just a day of its release. The news was announced via social media, highlighting the singer's growing global influence.
Ayra Starr, signed to Mavins Records Nigeria, continues to make waves in the Afrobeats scene, and this visa controversy appears to be a minor setback in an otherwise thriving career.
