South Africa has pushed back against growing calls in Nigeria for visa restrictions on South African entertainers, with its Consul-General demanding evidence to support claims that singer Ayra Starr and her team were denied entry into the country.

Prof. Bobby Moroe said South African immigration authorities have no record of any visa application or rejection tied to Ayra Starr or her entourage, and asked those making the allegation to supply names and application reference numbers so the matter can be investigated. 

"The information currently available to South African authorities does not show that any application linked to Ayra Starr or her team was submitted or rejected," he said.

The demand follows a call from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, urging the Federal Government and the Nigeria Immigration Service to apply reciprocity when reviewing visa applications from South African entertainers. 

"If it is confirmed that our Nigerian artiste Ayra Starr and her team were denied entry visas to South Africa, leading to the cancellation of their engagements, then Nigeria should respond with equivalent measures until Nigerian citizens and artistes are accorded fair and respectful treatment," she said, clarifying that her position wasn't aimed at Tyla personally but at securing mutual respect between the two countries. 

Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole made a similar call, urging Nigerian authorities to scrutinise visa requests from South African entertainers and their teams.

The dispute traces back to February 2024, when Ayra Starr and members of her team were reportedly denied visas ahead of planned shows in Johannesburg and Cape Town, forcing both concerts to be cancelled. 

At the time, organiser Steyn Entertainment attributed the cancellations to difficulty securing travel documents despite exhausting available options, and refunds were issued to ticket holders.
The issue resurfaced this week after Tyla removed Lagos from her A*POP World Tour schedule following a Nigerian boycott campaign tied to renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa. 

The December 22 Lagos date no longer appears on Tyla's official ticketing platform, and neither she nor her management has explained its removal.