SA Music banned in Zambia, as MTN stores looted abroad [video]

The bizarre feud between South Africa and the rest of the continent is escalating. MTN stores and others have been targeted on foreign soil.

A culture war is brewing between South Africa and its continental neighbours following a spate of xenophobic attacks over the weekend in Gauteng. It seems the fallout is having far-reaching consequences, as Zambia became the latest African country to take a stand against SA business.

Foreign store owners in Mzansi had their businesses raided by gatvol locals who are blaming immigrants for a number of societal ills, and five people have died as a result of the violence last weekend.

South African stores looted abroad

Although the majority of the deceased were South Africans, that hasn’t stopped a fierce international condemnation coming our way. Nigeria have lead the charge, as several Shoprite stores (South African-owned) were looted, damaged or raided in retaliation to the xenophobia seen in GP.

Several MTN offices have also been subject to wanton vandalism and destruction across Nigeria. The company have made the unusual decision to close all of their stores across the country, in a bid to prevent further protests flaring-up and putting their staff at risk. There have been multiple reports of fires at some locations:

@mtnnigeria is on fire lugbe Abuja. Abuja resident finally took to the street.#saynotoxenophobia#wenogetpresident#zenophobia#xenophobiainsouthafrica pic.twitter.com/lsB0EUwwwb

— Tola (@kolade_miles) September 4, 2019

Zambia lifts the bar

But arguably, we haven’t seen the most bizarre retaliation yet. It’s back to Zambia for this one. Popular radio station Hot FM are now refusing to play any South African music whatsoever. This comes just hours after the Zambian Football Association pulled out of a friendly with Bafana Bafana, in protest of xenophobia.

In light of the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, Hot Fm will cease to play music by South African artists on our airwaves until further notice.

All African nations, whether Frontline states… https://t.co/DTk8dZiiKN

— HotFMZambia (@HOT877Zambia) September 4, 2019