"I Hate Foreigners!" South Africa's Xenophobia Is More Than Hate Speech

Friday, 29 September 2023

By: TB Obwoge

There is a new BBC News documentary about South Africa's multiple issues with crime, drug use and race. After watching just the Facebook teaser of BBC News documentary on the rise of xenophobia, I was deeply saddened. I found the full documentary even more difficult to watch. 

One woman spoke about her son's death due to his drug addiction. She proclaimed that Nigerians were to blame for his drug addiction and subsequent death.

Not to mention this xenophobia is not only exclusive towards Nigerians, it happens to touch other Black Africans as well. One TikTok Live was directed at those from Zimbabwe and other Sub-Saharan countries.

Once again this is something I've written about for almost 2 years, the xenophobia and racism in Africa. Not to mention the colorism.

Here you can watch the 50 plus minute documentary on YouTube, read the comments. You can also see videos, TikTok Lives of South Africans posting hateful videos about inflicting violence on foreigners. Especially Black Africans.

As always social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter X are allowing hate speech to spread on their platforms. Many can freely post videos and threats against one another on TikTok Live and Twitter X.

There are Twitter X spaces where hate speech and threats can be communicated and shared within a large amount of people all at once to spread their message.

As the documentary mentions that 1 out of 3 South Africans are unemployed, these are the times where people start to find blame in others.

It's hard to not mention the correlation between homophobic hatred in poorer African countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Zambia.

In these countries with already established anti-LGTBQ laws, it's notable that when governments start to encounter heat for unemployment and the economic hardship, they turn towards chasing homosexuals.

There is a word filled with xenophobia towards Nigerians, once again something that living in Ghana opened my eyes too. Sadly though many Ghanians are discriminatory towards South Africans, rhetoric framing them all as drug addicts.

The vicious cycle goes on, South Africans blame Nigerians for the drug addiction in their family members, therefore raining down hatred for Nigerians. To be labeled as all drug addicts in Ghana where they're refused housing and employment.

Nigerians are flooding several countries where one wouldn't think they'd find a West African immigrant. Countries like Ireland have been overwhelmed by the influx of Nigerians, Ireland was once embroiled with xenophobic rhetoric towards Nigerians as well.

Just weeks ago there was a TikTok Live filled with so-called Irish citizens spreading the same hate speech that can be heard in the BBC Africa News documentary.

South Africa marks 2023 Week by inviting Nigerians to experience her culture after 29 years of bilateral relationship

The South African consulate hosted its inaugural South Africa Week 2023 recently, kicking off on Saturday, 22 April 2023. And it was a delightful sight as Nigerians showed up to experience the diversity of South Africa showcased in food, fashion, music, and lots more.

In celebration of 29 years of diplomatic and bilateral relationship between Nigeria and South Africa, South African tourism called on Nigerians to come discover and fall in love with the diversity and culture that makes South Africa a global holiday and business destination.

As the touchpoint of the 2023 South Africa week in Nigeria, the objective is to strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries through tourism. From food, music and sightseeing to possibly finding love. Nigerian tourists were invited to enjoy the “Mzansi” experience.

The South African Consul General, Dr Bobby Moroe stated that “the event Swas to signify the new journey in the renewal of friendship between South Africans and Nigerians. He urged all Nigerians and friends of South Africa who want to visit South Africa for academic study, tourism, conferences or even find love, to note that South Africa is open for tourism.”

Source: PrimiumTimes

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