Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Tems has canceled her upcoming concert in Rwanda, citing the ongoing conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The singer, whose real name is Temilade Openiyi, was scheduled to perform at BK Arena in Kigali on March 22. However, in a post on X, she acknowledged that she had been unaware of the regional tensions while promoting the event.
“I never ever intend to be insensitive to real-world issues, and I sincerely apologise if this came across that way,” she wrote. “My heart goes out to those affected.”
— TEMS (@temsbaby) January 30, 2025
Her decision comes amid increasing international pressure on Rwanda regarding its alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which recently took control of Goma in eastern DRC.
The United Kingdom has indicated that it may reassess its aid to Rwanda, while a United Nations report alleges that Rwanda has deployed thousands of troops in eastern DRC and maintains effective control over M23. Rwanda has denied these claims.
Meanwhile, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has insisted that the conflict will persist until the FDLR, a rebel group linked to the 1994 genocide, is dismantled.
