Tshwane Entertainment Collective (TEC), a South African group of showbiz experts, has objected to the inclusion of Burna Boy, Nigerian singer, in the ‘Africa Unite’ concert.

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The show is aimed to mend the cracks in the relationship between both countries.

Amid the heightening tension between both nations over xenophobia, Burna Boy had said he would never visit the country until the problem is resolved.

However, less than two months after the Afro-fusion singer had made some “outrageous” statements, he was billed to headline the concert after which he said that some parts of the proceed therefrom would be donated to victims of xenophobia.

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The concert is said to be organized by South Africa’s department of sports, arts, and culture alongside other partners and would take place in Cape Town at The Lawns on November 23, and Tshwane’s Sun Arena on November 24.

But, ahead of the D-day, TEC petitioned Nathi Mthethwa, minister of the department, airing its grievances about the concert, and calling the department to withdraw its sponsorship from the event.

The group also objected to the inclusion of Burna Boy in the show, questioned the exclusion of artists and event organizers from Tshwane, and complained of the lack of financial support for artists from the area.

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“Whoever may have deemed that the country needs a PR exercise of this nature would have done so largely as a result of the callous, misleading and unwarranted incitement by this very artist. Not only did he (Burna Boy) spread falsehoods through his extensive platform, he literally incited violence and hate,” the letter read.

Responding to the letter, the department refuted claims that it sponsored the concert. It also stated that its logo had only been used “erroneously” on posters advertising the event.

“The Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture wishes to dispel the untrue information that it is funding the Africans Unite Concert featuring the artist known as Burna Boy. It is unfortunate that the department’s logo was erroneously used on the poster advertising the event,” said Asanda Magaqa, its spokesperson.

“The department wishes to reiterate that it has not allocated or granted any funding to the event in question and any reports to the contrary are entirely false.”

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