By By Muminat Ajide
The longstanding tensions between Nigeria and South Africa have manifested in various arenas, from sports controversies to cultural clashes, highlighting a complex relationship between Africa’s economic giants.
One of the most recent incidents highlighted these tensions when Chidimma Adetshina, a contestant in Miss South Africa, withdrew from the pageant amidst xenophobic attacks targeting her Nigerian heritage. This episode underscored deeper societal divisions, despite efforts for unity.
In another instance, Nigeria’s youth basketball team faced potential exclusion from an international competition in South Africa last month. Nigerian officials accused South Africa of attempting to block their participation, adding to a history of strained sports relations between the two nations.
Olawale Olusola, an international relations expert at Obafemi Awolowo University, traced these tensions back decades, intensifying after South Africa’s transition from apartheid in 1994, when Nigeria was under military rule. Friction escalated further when Nigeria boycotted the 1996 African Cup of Nations hosted by South Africa, in response to criticism from South African leader Nelson Mandela over Nigeria’s handling of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa’s execution.
In 2019, violence erupted against Nigerians in South Africa, leading to gf attacks in Nigeria and strained diplomatic ties. Despite subsequent cooperation agreements signed during state visits, such as between Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Cyril Ramaphosa, bilateral relations remain fragile.
The recent dispute over travel permits for Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigers basketball team highlighted ongoing tensions. The team was initially denied permits by South Africa’s consulate, but they only secured clearance after Nigerian diplomatic intervention. This incident underscores the underlying challenges in sports diplomacy between the two nations.
The rivalry has also spilled into cultural domains like music, with Nigeria’s Afrobeats and South Africa’s Amapiano gaining global recognition.
Nigeria’s Afrobeats and South Africa’s Amapiano have become some of the most notable genres worldwide, with artists from both nations collaborating and embracing each other’s styles.
But online brawls over accolades like the Grammys often see fans arguing over who deserves the awards.
September, Tyla won “Best Afrobeats” at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards for her hit song “Water,” surpassing Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, Asake, and Tems.
Additionally, tensions between the two countries flared when Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the African Cup of Nations semifinal. The match ended in a draw at full time, leading to a 4-2 penalty shootout victory for Nigeria, with Stanley Nwanbali saving two penalties.
Also in August, some South Africans initiated a viral challenge involving fake ordering and canceling of Bolt rides in Nigeria, shared widely on social media. This led to retaliatory actions from Nigerians, causing artificial ride surges in South Africa. The trend began as online pranks by South Africans, but escalated when Nigerians responded in kind, amid concerns over fuel consumption amidst rising prices.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria and South Africa maintain significant economic ties, with South Africa as a major importer of Nigerian crude oil. While competition persists, analysts argue that collaboration on shared regional and continental challenges could unlock greater potential for both nations.
Economically, prominent South African investors in Nigeria include the MTN Group, Remgro, Shoprite, Pick ’n Pay Holdings, Black Rhino, Pep, Standard Bank Group, Clover Industries, and Naspers. Conversely, Nigerian companies such as Dangote Cement, Thursday newspapers, First Bank, Zenith Bank, GZ Industries, and others are active in South Africa.
According to the overview reports from The Observatory of Economic Complexity, South Africa primarily imports crude oil from Nigeria. In addition to crude oil, South Africa also imports an additional US$ 9 million worth of goods from Nigeria, including fertilizers, rubber products, coffee, tea, and aluminum.
The report also indicated that in 2022, South Africa exported goods worth $521 million to Nigeria. The main items included Propylene Polymers ($101 million), Apples and Pears ($45.5 million), and Metal Stoppers ($22.2 million). South Africa’s exports to Nigeria have grown by an average of 3.13% annually over the past five years, rising from $447 million in 2017 to $521 million in 2022.
