Canada Refuses Yemi Alade Visa For Fear She Might Not Leave

Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has been refused entry into Canada over fears that she might not leave the country with her crew after her performance.

The singer is one of the headliners of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique slated for Sunday, July 24, 2022.

She won't be able to perform at the festival’s final closing concert on Sunday, according to a report by Le Devoir, the French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and throughout Canada.

 

 

 

 

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Commenting on the development, Suzanne Rousseau, the festival co-founder, said the visa denial was due to financial reasons and fears that the group wouldn’t leave Canada.

“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 said.

With Yemi’s absence, Suzanne has stated that the singer would have to be replaced at the festival by Sampa The Great, a Zambian-born Australia-based singer.

Yemi Alade also put out an apology via Twitter, saying she is sad that she will be unable to perform as expected by fans.

I'm so sad ! I will not be headlining the Festival in Montreal as announced for July 24th .I'm trully sorry. TILL NEXT TIME Canada

— ✊? yemialade (@yemialadee) July 22, 2022