Media Talk Africa: Latest Headlines in Politics, Business, Sports, and More

Miss South Africa Hopeful Chidimma Adetshina Joins Miss Universe Nigeria Contest

In a surprising turn of events, Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old model who withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant amid a row over her nationality, has announced that she will be participating in the Miss Universe Nigeria contest.

Adetshina, who was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father, quit the Miss South Africa pageant “for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I” after a backlash that exposed anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa. The social media outcry focused on the nationality of her father, despite South Africa granting citizenship by birth to anyone born in the country after 1995 to a South African parent or permanent resident.

Organisers of the Nigerian contest immediately invited Adetshina to join their final on August 31, saying it was a chance to “represent your father’s native land on an international stage.” Adetshina replied in a video on Instagram, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity and her enthusiasm for participating in Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant.

The saga surrounding Adetshina’s nationality has sparked a heated debate about anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa, which has witnessed violent and deadly attacks on immigrants. The controversy has also led to accusations of “afrophobia” against citizens from elsewhere on the continent.

The drama has also drawn in government ministers and other personalities, with the home ministry opening an investigation that raised questions about the nationality of Adetshina’s mother, who was said to be a South African of Mozambican descent. The investigation uncovered “prima facie indications” that her mother might have stolen the identity of a South African woman, leading to legal advice on the implications for her citizenship.

The rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria has also been fueled by the controversy, with Nigerian afrobeat superstar Burna Boy facing backlash from South Africans for his reaction to the Miss South Africa winner announcement. South Africa’s Grammy award-winning star Tyla initially defended Adetshina against online bullying but later changed her stance, saying she stood with her fellow citizens and believed that the laws of South Africa must be respected.

Adetshina’s decision to join the Miss Universe Nigeria contest has sparked a mix of reactions, with some praising her courage and others criticizing her for abandoning her South African roots. The controversy has once again highlighted the complex and often fraught relationships between countries in Africa.