Deadly riots that forced Miss World to move to London after 100 people killed

By Simon Hamalienko 11:30, 22 NOV 2021

Muslims opposed Nigeria hosting the Miss World beauty pageant in 2002 after the country's Agbani Darego had won the crown the previous year. The riots that followed left 100 people dead

Riots in Nigeria over the hosting of the Miss World beauty contest saw 100 people killed (Image: REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya)

The glitz and glamour that come with the Miss World contest turned into death and destruction one year as 100 people were killed in riots in Nigeria.

Following the victory of Agbani Darego, who represented the country in 2001, Nigeria was set to host the world famous contest but not everyone was happy about having the pageant in the capital city Abuja.

Muslim youths reportedly started the riots in the city of Kaduna that saw 500 people injured and 100 people killed on November 22 in 2002.

The riots sparked clashes with Christians in the city and resulted in 22 churches and eight mosques being destroyed.

Nigerian Agbani Darego won Miss World the year before the deadly riots (Image: REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya)

The Guardian reported that around 8,000 people were left homeless due to the destruction of their homes and some being torched to the ground during the riots.

The riots were allegedly sparked by a Nigerian newspaper article in ThisDay written by 21-year-old journalist Isioma Daniel.

In the article, Daniel made an “irresponsible” suggestion that Prophet Mohammed may have chosen one of the Miss World contestants as his wife.

The riots saw 22 churches and eight mosques destroyed as thousands were left homeless (Image: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Image)

The Muslim community was already angry about the contest coming to the country with some declaring it as offensive to female modesty and sexual morality.

The riots prompted Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to blame the media for the violence rather than the contest itself.

The riots saw clashes between Muslims and Christians, which was reportedly sparked by a newspaper article (Image: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)

As reported by the BBC, he said: “It could happen at any time irresponsible journalism is committed against Islam.”

On November 23, Miss World organisers made the decision to move the show to London to be held on December 7 following the unrest in the African country.

Darego made history when she took the crown of Miss World by becoming the first black woman from an African country to win the event.

Damage to the Evangelical Church of West Africa, burnt by rioters in the Nigerian city of Kaduna

Nigerian officials reportedly jumped at the chance to host the event in a bid to improve the image of Nigeria to the rest of the world.

However, as soon as the Miss World contest was confirmed to be held in the country, protests began.

Nigeria already had clashes between Muslims and Christians but the hosting of the event sparked a new row.

Azra Akin was crowned the winner of Miss World 2002 when the contest was moved to Alexandra Palace in London (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA)

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Two years before the fatal riots, 2,000 people had died in religious clashes, according to FrontLine World.

Darego was due to be at the Miss World contest to hand over the crown to her predecessor and was in a hotel room as she watched the riot unfold.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: “'I was saddened, disappointed, confused.”

The event went ahead in London, where Darego handed her crown to Azra Akın from Turkey.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/deadly-riots-forced-miss-world-25515612