Nigerians Mock South Africans Over Miss SA Crowning White Winner
Social media is ablaze as Nigerians mock South Africans following the crowning of Mia Le Roux as the new Miss South Africa on Saturday. The backlash comes in the wake of Chidimma Adetshina‘s withdrawal from the pageant due to xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks. Many Nigerians see irony in South Africans accepting a white winner after rejecting Adetshina, who hails from Nigeria.
Nigerian Reactions
Prominent Nigerian author and university professor Dr. Uju Anya did not hold back in her criticism. She wrote on Twitter:
“The real winner of the shitshow of anti-Blackness and xenophobia is Chidimma Adetshina, whose stunning face and grace gained worldwide fame, which will propel her into an international modelling career bigger than anything she could’ve gotten from that bush league beauty pageant.”
Anya further added,
“I’m muting and moving so they can stay here and keep showing their trifling hate-filled ass to children of Nigerians while worshipping and crowning the Europeans who stole their homeland.”
Nigerian superstar musician Burna Boy also weighed in, posting a picture of the new Miss SA with the caption:
“So After ALL that,” surrounded by laughing emojis.
😂😂So After ALL that.. ……. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/reNfDe9N12
— Burna Boy (@burnaboy) August 11, 2024
Social media users across Nigeria and other nations joined in, echoing similar sentiments.
X user @madessst wrote,
“all of that xenophobia just for the crown to go to a white woman is just LMFAO”
South Africans Defend Themselves
South Africans were quick to respond, accusing Nigerians of playing the victim while ignoring the allegations against Adetshina’s mother, who has been accused of fraud and identity theft. Some also took issue with the “bush league” comment.
One Twitter user, Vutivi, expressed frustration:
“I think Nigerians love playing victims, no real sense of accountability on sight as usual. None of them seem to understand that her mother is a fraudulent person, STOLE AN IDENTITY. We have nothing against Chidimma but the crime her mother committed. Please respect us!”
Another user, Kanekelon and Cinnamon, defended the Miss South Africa pageant:
“Ah come on Uju. There’s no need to speak down on Miss SA. It’s actually a really prestigious pageant and they had Chichi’s back throughout all of this. It’s certainly NOT a bush league anything bc it produced the most famous Miss Universe of all time.”
Heated Exchange Continues
The debate shows no signs of slowing down as both sides continue to trade barbs. While Nigerians mock South Africans for the perceived hypocrisy, South Africans stand firm, insisting that the issue is more complex than it appears. The controversy has highlighted the deep divisions and lingering tensions between the two nations.