Xenophobia Taints Miss South Africa Pageant as Nigerian-South African Finalist Faces Backlash

In Summary
• Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina faces xenophobic attacks due to Nigerian heritage
• Online petition and social media outrage call for her removal from the competition
• Incident highlights persistent "afrophobia" and xenophobic sentiments in South Africa
• Similar experiences shared by former contestant Melissa Nayimuli

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA- The selection of Chidimma Adetshina as a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant has ignited a firestorm of controversy, exposing deep-seated xenophobic attitudes that continue to plague the nation. Despite being born and raised in South Africa, the 23-year-old law student has faced vicious online attacks and calls for her disqualification due to her Nigerian heritage.

Adetshina's nomination as one of the top 16 finalists for the prestigious competition should have been a moment of celebration. Instead, it unleashed a torrent of xenophobic sentiment on social media platforms. Internet sleuths delved into her background, uncovering that while her mother is South African (with Mozambican roots), her father is Nigerian.

The backlash was swift and severe. A petition demanding Adetshina's removal from the competition garnered over 14,000 signatures before being taken down. Social media comments ranged from dismissive to outright hostile, with one user declaring, "On behalf of South Africans, we don't recognise her and that name! She better start packing and go home."

Even government officials weighed in on the controversy. Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, leader of the Patriotic Alliance party, expressed skepticism about Adetshina's participation, stating on social media, "We truly cannot have Nigerians compete in our Miss SA competition."

The incident has reignited discussions about "afrophobia" in South Africa – a specific form of xenophobia targeting other Africans. Adetshina herself described the situation as "black-on-black hate" in an interview with Sowetan Live, noting that she felt singled out among the finalists despite not being the only contestant with a name suggesting foreign heritage.

This is not an isolated incident. Melissa Nayimuli, a contestant in last year's Miss South Africa pageant, shared her own experiences of facing similar xenophobic attacks due to her Ugandan father. Nayimuli described a lifetime of trying to "prove her South African-ness" and even feeling shame about her Ugandan heritage.

Sociologist Dr. Nombulelo Shange from the University of the Free State links this hostility to South Africa's history of racism and the apartheid system. She suggests that there is a "sad apartheid mentality that we are struggling to shake as a country" and that it reveals "the deep self-hate that we as black South Africans carry with us."

The xenophobic sentiments exposed by this controversy are part of a larger pattern in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid, African migrants have often been scapegoated for economic struggles, leading to occasional outbreaks of violence. The worst such incident occurred in 2008, resulting in over 60 deaths.

Despite the negativity, there are voices calling for unity. Opposition leader Julius Malema defended Adetshina, emphasizing her South African birth and upbringing. Nayimuli, reflecting on her own experience, stressed that the xenophobes represent a minority and that many South Africans advocate for unity.

As the Miss South Africa finale approaches next weekend, all eyes will be on Adetshina to see how she addresses the controversy. Her experience has once again brought to the forefront the ongoing challenges South Africa faces in combating xenophobia and promoting a truly inclusive society.