Online Reporter
SOUTH AFRICAN singer Tyla is facing backlash in Nigeria after announcing that Lagos is one of the stops on her upcoming tour.
The announcement has sparked calls from some Nigerians to boycott the concert.
The criticism comes in the wake of recent anti-immigration protests and xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals were targeted.
Several prominent Nigerians believe that boycotting Tyla’s show would send a strong message against the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
Many critics have also questioned Tyla’s silence during the attacks.
They argue that as a global star, she had an opportunity to speak out against the violence or show support for those affected.
Since she chose not to, some believe Nigerian fans should not support her concert by buying tickets.
Not everyone shares that view.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and other commentators argue that artistes should not be blamed for political tensions or the actions of their governments.
They believe music should bring people together rather than deepen divisions.
The debate continues to gain traction across social media and news platforms, placing Tyla’s Lagos concert at the centre of a wider conversation about the relationship between South Africa and Nigeria.
While it remains unclear whether officials will intervene, the controversy has once again shown how political tensions between the two countries can spill over into the entertainment industry. — Wires
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50 Cent explains why Eminem never returned to movies after ‘8 Mile’
While discussing his 2005 film debut, 50 Cent reflected on the challenges artistes face when trading the recording studio for a movie set.
More than two decades after “8 Mile” became a box office success, fans still wonder why Eminem never built on its momentum with another major acting role.
According to 50 Cent, the answer comes down to something the Detroit rapper values more than anything else, centring on creative control.
While reflecting on his own experience making 2005’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” during an interview with GQ, 50 said stepping into Hollywood required a very different mindset than making music.
Unlike the recording studio, where artistes can keep revising a song until they are satisfied, filmmaking demands collaboration with dozens of people, leaving far less room to dictate the final product.
Released in 2002, “8 Mile” became both a commercial and critical success, earning more than US$240 million worldwide and winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Lose Yourself”.
Despite the film’s impact, Eminem never pursued another starring role.
Instead, he only made occasional cameo appearances in movies and television over the years.
Meanwhile, for 50 Cent, after starring in “Get Rich or Die Tryin’”, he steadily expanded his footprint in Hollywood.
Eventually, he became one of television’s most successful producers through the Power universe and a growing slate of film and television projects.
Yet he understands why Eminem made a different choice.
Both artistes found enormous success in music before stepping onto a movie set, but Fif believes the collaborative nature of filmmaking can be difficult for artistes accustomed to having the final say over every creative decision. — Wires
