Narratives of Belonging: The Case of Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina
Posted: 30 September, 2024 Filed under: Namatirayi Ngwasha, Zekhethelo Cele | Tags: Aliens Control Act of 1973, belonging, birth country, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, cultural authenticity, debate on identity, Department of Home Affairs, dual heritage, dual identities, heritage, human rights, identity fraud, Immigration Act in 2002, immigration laws, immigration policies, Miss South Africa pageant, national identity, nationality, race, second-generation migrants, social exclusion, socio-economic challenges, The South African Citizenship Act of 1995, tribal affiliations, xenophobic violence 6 Comments
Author: Zekhethelo Cele
LLM Candidate, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina’s nationality has sparked a significant debate on identity, belonging, and representation between South Africa and Nigeria. Allegedly born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Chidimma’s story resonates with many second-generation migrants who grapple with dual identities and the challenges of being fully accepted in their birth country while maintaining a connection to their heritage.
Recently crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Chidimma’s journey has been marked by both triumph and controversy. Her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant faced backlash, with some South Africans questioning her nationality and prompting an investigation by the Department of Home Affairs. The Department suggested that Chidimma’s parents might have obtained South African citizenship fraudulently, with her mother allegedly using an identity number assigned to a South African woman. This led to Chidimma’s withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant and set the stage for her subsequent victory in Nigeria.
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