According to reports, Nigerian Afropop singer Yemi Alade who has one of the most popular songs on YouTube in terms of views, was refused a Canadian visa out of concern that she might not go back to her home country.
The revelation was first reported by the French-language newspaper Le Devoir, which also gave explanations for why the Nigerian superstar won’t be able to play at the festival’s final closing concert on July 24, 2022.
The 33-year-old is reportedly one of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique’s headliners.
Festival co-founder, Suzanne Rousseau confirmed this and revealed that Yemi’s lack of ‘financial power, and fears that the group wouldn’t leave Canada’ were the reasons why she was bounced.
According to Rousseau, the process of applying for a visitor’s visa has been a huge challenge for the past five years.
“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,” she explained.