The recent xenophobic attack cases in ‘some areas’ in South Africa are disturbing. But what was more troubling is watching how some people used ignorance to generalize the incident. They painted the whole issue like, if you are a Nigerian in any neighborhood in South Africa, you are liable to be assaulted. That false narrative created topsy-turvy, enormities and might have contributed to the alleged reprisal in Nigeria.

Let’s be clear on one point, any form of alienation such as white supremacy, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism or xenophobia should be condemned. No man has the right to unjustly take the life of another. Also, anyone that ignorantly spread misinformation or created an opinion that puts fellow humans at loggerheads is as evil. So how on earth did we allow the opinionated incident within Ycee & A.K.A to create more hatred within the pop music generation than the actual xenophobic event?

At a time of horror where the smallest form of love will heal the pains, how does friendly football banter becomes an impetus to evoke more hatred and galvanize war within the legion of music fans? As I read through the facts of the whole episode within Ycee and A.K.A, I wept at the level of hatred in the comments unleashed on the South African rapper’s Instagram wall. Why was it so easy to instigate this generation to go to war for baseless accusations?

This latest xenophobic incident was more revealing. It also exposes the facts that we lack leaders that understood that coming out swiftly with detailed information of where the isolated cases occurred could have helped to alter most of the false / #deepfakes narrative spreading through video sound bites commentaries that might have primed some disgruntled folks for the alleged reported reprisal attacks. How long will we allow inaccurate information to lead us astray?

In rounding up, if anyone generalized Boko Haram attacks as if it’s happening everywhere in Nigeria or generalized xenophobic attacks as if it’s happening everywhere in South Africa, that person is the real evil we all need to be skeptical of. The more we can isolate cases, the better we can find a solution for each one and live together as humans. Don’t allow anyone to ignorantly make us hate one another.

Words By Sesan Adeniji