Nigerian international superstar and Grammy-winning artist Tems has officially canceled her upcoming concert in Rwanda due to the escalating tensions between the country and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The singer made the announcement via her X account on January 30, stating that she was unaware of the ongoing crisis when she initially promoted the concert. Her decision to withdraw from the event has been widely praised by fans from both South Africa and the DRC, who view it as a show of sensitivity to the current political climate.
In her statement, Tems expressed her regret and emphasized that she had no intention of being insensitive to real-world issues. She also extended her thoughts to those affected by the conflict.
“So I recently promoted my show in Rwanda without realizing that there is ongoing conflict between Rwanda and Congo. I never ever intend to be insensitive to real-world issues, and I sincerely apologize if this came across that way. I simply had no idea this was going on. My heart goes out to those affected. Conflict is no joke and I truly hope and pray for peace in this time.”
The canceled Kigali concert was originally scheduled as part of her world tour for Born In The Wild, her highly anticipated debut album. The tour has been a massive success, with multiple sold-out venues across different continents.
Fellow South Africans,
— Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) January 29, 2025
Following the recent intensification of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa has lost 13 brave soldiers who were dedicated to their mission and committed to peace. The fighting is the result of an escalation by the rebel…
Rwanda is currently at the center of rising tensions with South Africa over its alleged support for the M23 Rebel Group, which has been engaged in efforts to overthrow the DRC government. The situation escalated further when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently confirmed the deaths of over a dozen South African soldiers involved in a peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today. What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate… https://t.co/i78aqtVjpr
— Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) January 29, 2025
In his statement, Ramaphosa referred to the Rwandan military as a “militia,” prompting a sharp response from Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who issued a statement reaffirming Rwanda’s readiness to engage with South Africa in whatever context necessary.
As diplomatic tensions continue to rise, Tems’ decision to cancel her concert is seen as a stand for peace and a move to avoid potential controversy. While fans in Rwanda may be disappointed, many acknowledge her awareness and sensitivity to the broader geopolitical crisis unfolding in the region.
