Yemi Alade, Nigeria’s most followed celebrity singer and songwriter, with the highest followers on social media, has kept mum after a report went viral claiming she was denied a visa to perform in Canada.
According to reports, the denial was due to fears that the Nigerian singer might not leave the country.
The report via Le Devoir, which is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and throughout Canada, disclosed that the afro-pop superstar will be unable to perform at the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique’s final closing concert on Sunday.
Suzanne Rousseau, the festival co-founder, in a statement, said the visa denial was due to “financial reasons, and for fears that the group wouldn’t leave Canada,” as he lamented that the process of applying for a visitor’s visa has been difficult for “at least five years.”
In her words; “Finally, we got an answer saying the musicians were refused, saying they have to guarantee that they have enough financial means that will make them go back to their country”
As of the time of this report, Yemi Alade is the only Nigerian female singer with 17million followers on Instagram.
However, her fans have continued to react since the report surfaced online.
Read some of the reactions:
@Nedumcity_
That’s why we need a good government. A government that will build strong foreign policy.
@OrevaBernard
Has anyone even considered the fact that she might just have needed a visa to go for a show in Canada? The Nigerian and African population has grown over the years and would demand Nigerian musicians performing there too. Our Minister for foreign affairs must get involved.
@AngeloPearld
I don’t blame them… I blame Nigerians, the population of Nigerians alone in Canada is teeming into 500k.
@chima_akunwata
Is this not contradictory. A country asking people to come in at the same time saying someone won’t leave their country.🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾
@k_unit_1
If only they know how many countries she has been to 🙄🙄🙄
