Lingering Scars of Xenophobia: Nigerian entrepreneur’s dream lost in South Africa amid hostility

By Adeola Badru FOR more than a decade, Taiwo Kazeem believed South Africa offered the opportunities he could not easily find in Nigeria. He left home in search of a better life, armed with ambition and the determination to build a future abroad. But after more than 10 years, his journey took an unexpected turn. Having established businesses, built professional relationships and earned recognition in South Africa’s creative industry, Kazeem has returned to Nigeria following an incident of hostility that he says affected his business, damaged his property and raised serious concerns about his safety.

His experience highlights the uncertainties confronting migrants who invest years building livelihoods in foreign countries, only to find themselves questioning their security and future. For many Nigerians who chose South Africa, the reality became stark. The search for greener pasture “I left Nigeria about 10 years ago with the intention of knowing what was happening in other parts of the world.

As we all know, we believe that going to another country abroad is always a better opportunity,” Kazeem recalled. His expectations, however, were quickly challenged. Rather than finding employment, he encountered a difficult job market, where unemployment was also a concern among South Africans. He admitted that he had not fully understood the economic realities before travelling and said his experience taught him the importance of adequate preparation before relocating abroad.

With limited employment opportunities, Kazeem explored other means of survival. He ventured into the beauty industry, learning nail and eyelash services despite having no previous experience in the field. What began as a survival strategy eventually opened doors to other creative pursuits. He moved into modelling, subsequently explored acting and later became involved in film production.

From banking and finance to the creative industry Before relocating, Kazeem had studied banking and finance and worked in the hospitality industry. However, his experience in South Africa helped him discover a different professional direction. Over the years, he received recognition for his contributions to community service, creative arts and leadership.

He was also nominated for South Africa’s 40 Under 40 recognition and undertook activities connected with the country’s arts and cultural institutions. His growing involvement in the creative industry helped him establish professional relationships and build a reputation beyond the Nigerian community. “South Africa gave me opportunities. They shared the platform with me initially, from the beginning.

I was able to navigate deeply into the creative industry. I got recognition,” he said. His achievements represented a significant transformation for someone who had initially travelled abroad hoping to secure conventional employment. Through determination and the willingness to explore unfamiliar opportunities, he had built a professional identity in an industry he had not previously considered.

When xenophobic hostility became personal Despite these achievements, Kazeem said concerns about xenophobic hostility towards foreign nationals, including Nigerians, remained a recurring feature of his experience. He recalled that authorities and community organisations sometimes organised engagements involving African migrant communities to promote peaceful coexistence and discourage xenophobia.

According to him, such engagements provided opportunities for dialogue and reassurance, although he remained concerned about the recurrence of tensions. He said he initially believed the hostility would eventually subside and that he would not personally become a victim. However, his perception changed following an incident he said directly affected his business and livelihood.

Kazeem explained that he had maintained relationships with several organisations and individuals in South Africa but became increasingly concerned about his safety after the experience. He also said he had withheld some videos relating to the incident from social media because of security concerns, explaining that his identity and professional activities were known within sections of the country’s creative industry.

For him, the experience changed the way he viewed his future in a country where he had spent more than a decade establishing himself. Business losses and the price of insecurity The financial consequences, according to him, were significant. Kazeem operated a salon and owned Unlimited Concert International, a creative production company. He said some of his professional equipment, including cameras and production gear, as well as other business property, were lost or left behind when he decided to return to Nigeria.

He estimated the value of the unrecovered property at more than tens of thousands of Rands. He also claimed to have video footage showing people entering and looting his business premises during the incident. He said a case was opened