Nigerian Grammy-winning singer, Temilade Openiyi popularly known as Tems has apologised for promoting her show amidst Rwanda-Congo conflict.
In a post on X, Tems expressed her sadness over the development that has disrupted peace in this region of Central Africa.
“I recently promoted my show in Rwanda without realising that there is ongoing conflict between Rwanda and Congo. I never ever intend to be insensitive to real-world issues, and I sincerely apologise if this came across that way. I simply had no idea this was going on. My heart goes out to those affected. Conflict is no joke and I truly hope and pray for peace at this time.”
The organisers of the show have cancelled the show till further notice.

Poster for the cancelled show
Reports say that some rebels, with support from Rwandan troops, carried out an offensive on Goma, the capital of the DRC’s North Kivu province, displacing over 400,000 people and causing the DRC to cut off its diplomatic ties with Rwanda. The Congolese government called Rwandan military support for the rebels a “declaration of war.”
These M23 rebels, with support from Rwandan troops, marched into Goma this week and are now advancing toward Bukavu, capital of neighboring South Kivu province, in the biggest escalation since 2012 of a decades-old conflict.
Rwanda is facing an international backlash over its actions in eastern Congo, where it has repeatedly intervened either directly or through allied militias over the past 30 years in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide.
Germany has cancelled aid talks with Rwanda while Britain is threatening to withhold $40 million of annual bilateral assistance, having no apparent effect on the ground.
After seizing Goma, a lakeside city of nearly 2 million and a major hub for displaced people and aid groups, M23 fighters were advancing south from the town of Minova, along the western side of Lake Kivu.
The resource-rich Congo also known as Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), now facing a major rebel attack, has been racked by conflict for more than 30 years.DRC’s insecurity is caused by complex and deep-seated factors, as well as a multitude of actors. Apart from the M23, numerous other armed groups, Congolese and foreign forces are battling for control, mostly in the eastern part of the country.