Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has announced the cancellation of her scheduled concert in Kigali, Rwanda, amid escalating tensions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.
Tems was set to perform in Kigali on March 22, 2025, as part of her Born in the Wild tour. However, in a statement shared on Instagram, the singer apologized for initially promoting the event, admitting she was unaware of the ongoing conflict in the region.
“So I recently promoted my show in Rwanda without realizing there is an ongoing conflict between Rwanda and Congo,” she wrote. “I never intend to be insensitive to real-world issues, and I sincerely apologize if this came across that way.”
The conflict between the two neighboring countries has intensified in recent weeks, with reports indicating that the M23 rebel group, which broke away from the DRC army over a decade ago, has taken control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. Rwanda has been accused of backing the armed group, further straining diplomatic relations.
Tems’ decision to withdraw from the Kigali concert aligns with growing concerns over security and the humanitarian crisis in the region.