When 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adetshina secured a spot as a Miss South Africa finalist, she likely anticipated a whirlwind of excitement and support. Instead, her achievement has been met with a torrent of xenophobic abuse, revealing deep-seated prejudices within the country. Born in Soweto and raised in Cape Town, Adetshina's South African identity has been questioned due to her Nigerian father and Mozambican maternal ancestry.
The backlash was swift and severe. Social media platforms were flooded with derogatory comments, with one user stating, On behalf of South Africans, we don’t recognise her and that name! She better start packing and go home. Such sentiments culminated in a petition demanding her removal from the competition, garnering over 14,000 signatures before it was taken down.
The controversy caught the attention of Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, leader of the Patriotic Alliance party, who has made migration a central issue. We truly cannot have Nigerians compete in our Miss SA competition. I wanna get all facts before I comment but it gives funny vibes already, McKenzie posted on X. Despite these attacks, Miss South Africa organizers have confirmed Adetshina's eligibility, emphasizing her South African citizenship.
Adetshina declined a BBC interview but spoke to Sowetan Live about the emotional toll of the online hate. I am representing a country, but I don’t feel the love from the people I’m representing, she said, describing the experience as black-on-black hate. She highlighted a particular strain of xenophobia known as afrophobia, which targets other Africans. Adetshina noted that other contestants with South Asian and European names did not face the same level of scrutiny.
Melissa Nayimuli, a Miss South Africa contestant from the previous year, empathizes deeply with Adetshina. Nayimuli, whose father is Ugandan, faced similar vitriol. It’s something I tried to run away from, but how do you run away from yourself? she questioned. Growing up, Nayimuli felt compelled to speak Xhosa, her mother tongue, to prove her South African-ness. The afrophobia she encountered even made her feel ashamed of her Ugandan heritage.
Dr. Nombulelo Shange, a sociologist at the University of the Free State, links this hostility to South Africa's apartheid history. There is a sad apartheid mentality that we are struggling to shake as a country, she explained. Dr. Shange pointed out that South Africans have internalized oppressive racist reasoning, such as colorism, where lighter skin tones are perceived as superior. This deep-seated self-hate manifests in xenophobic attitudes towards African migrants and their descendants.
The economic struggles of many South Africans exacerbate the issue, with foreigners often scapegoated for scarce jobs and resources. Michael Morris, head of media at the South African Institute of Race Relations, noted, There is a perception of outsiders as competitors for scarce jobs, resources, living space, and services. This resentment has occasionally erupted into violence, most notably in 2008, when xenophobic attacks claimed over 60 lives.
Despite the hostility, there are voices advocating for unity. Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party, defended Adetshina, stating, Why do people want to say she’s from Nigeria or Mozambique? She was born here. This call for inclusivity echoes the sentiments Nayimuli expressed during her Miss South Africa journey, where she urged for African unity in the face of hate.
As Adetshina prepares to take the stage next Saturday, the question remains whether she will address the xenophobic backlash directly. Her experience has already sparked a crucial conversation about national identity, belonging, and the need for a more inclusive South Africa.
