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Yemi Alade Reportedly Denied Entry In Canada
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Canada Denies Yemi Alade Visa Over Fears ‘She Won’t Leave The Country’
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Denied visa leads to cancellation of Yemi Alade show
Yemi Alade, a popular Nigerian-born musician, and her music band were denied visas to Canada due to concerns that they would not be able to leave the country following their performance.
The 33-year-old Afropop star is said to be one of the headliners of the Festival international Nuits d’Afrique.
According to reports from Le Devoir, a French newspaper published and syndicated in Canada, the singer will not perform at the Festival’s final closing ceremony on Sunday.
The festival’s co-founder, Suzanne Rousseau, commented on the development, stating that the visa denial was brought on by financial constraints and concerns that the group would not depart Canada.
“Finally, we got an answer saying the musicians were refused, saying they have to guarantee that they have enough financial means that will make them go back to their country,” she said.
A second visa application, this one from Europe, went unanswered.
Rousseau said it’s not the first time visa issues have come up while organizing Nuits d’Afrique — but this year is the worst so far.
“The procedures are longer than ever,” she said.
“I know when they’re from Africa, it’s not easy to get them here and never guaranteed.”
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Rousseau also lamented that the process of applying for a visitor’s visa has been difficult for at least five years.
As of the time of this report, Alade, is yet to speak about the visa issues in Canada.
With Yemi’s absence, Suzanne has stated that the singer would have to be replaced at the festival by Sampa The Great, a Zambian-born Australia-based singer.