What was supposed to be a thrilling international gig quickly turned into a harrowing nightmare for Nigerian DJ and media personality, DJ Dimplenipple, as she recently recounted her traumatic experience at the Manila airport in the Philippines.
In a detailed Instagram post, the entertainer opened up about the emotional rollercoaster she went through during a recent trip meant for a performance in the country. According to her, she traveled alongside her best friend, with all documents in order. This included visas, invitation letters, and sponsorship from event organizers CCMNL. But none of that could prepare them for what happened next. She wrote:
“We were racially profiled, humiliated, and treated like criminals.”
Upon arriving in Manila, the DJ said the immigration officers were cold and unwelcoming from the start. After submitting all requested documents and answering questions honestly, they were suddenly led to a supervisor’s office and held without explanation.
For hours, they were interrogated, searched repeatedly, and followed around like suspects. DJ Dimplenipple revealed that they were even subjected to intense luggage inspections involving sniffer dogs, cameras, and officers rifling through their underwear and toiletries. Yet, they were being denied the right to record the encounter for their own safety. She continued:
“They made us open our suitcases and went through everything, including our underwear, skincare, hair products, and even empty containers… They found nothing.”
Despite the intervention of the Nigerian Embassy in Manila and the event organizers, the immigration officials ultimately refused them entry into the country, citing a vague “personal decision” that couldn’t be explained.
The artist described the holding area as cold and inhumane. She said it was a place that had surveillance cameras even in restrooms, children crying, people screaming, and individuals who claimed to have been held without sunlight for months. She wrote:
“One man screamed randomly. Others said he had been there for four months without seeing sunlight. A fellow Nigerian told me, ‘If Nigeria was working, most of us would never leave.’ That hit me deeply.”
She further expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Embassy for doing all they could, showing up at 4AM, contacting authorities, and staying present till the very end. But even their intervention could not change the outcome. In a separate post addressed to the Nigerian Embassy, she wrote:
“Thank you for showing up, standing with us, and doing all you could. We saw you. We felt your support. We are grateful.”
Despite being exhausted and broken, DJ Dimplenipple still took the time to call out the systemic racism and mistreatment many Africans face abroad, especially in countries that issue visas only to treat visitors with hostility and suspicion. She concluded:
“Why issue us visas only to detain us like criminals when we arrive? This cannot continue. Enough is enough.”
See screenshots of her detailed post below:
Discussion about this post