South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the schedule of her APOP World Tour, days after her planned December 22 concert in Nigeria sparked boycott calls over renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
A review of the singer’s official tour website on Friday showed that the Lagos performance, previously scheduled for December 22, was no longer listed.
While the revised itinerary still features previously announced performances across Europe, North America and South Africa, the Nigerian stop has been taken off the schedule.
Earlier this week, Tyla announced the APOP World Tour, with Lagos originally included as the only Nigerian destination before the tour concludes in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9.
The announcement generated mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians calling for a boycott of the concert in protest against the reported attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.
While some argued that South African artistes should not perform in Nigeria as long as xenophobic attacks persist, others maintained that entertainers should not be held accountable for political or social issues.
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The debate intensified on Thursday after activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, threatened to mobilise members of his “Ratel Movement” to prevent the concert from taking place.
In a post on his Facebook page, Otse wrote, “TYLA SHOW WILL NOT BE HAPPENING IN NIGERIA.
“This is a message to SOUTH AFRICANS. WE ARE AFRICANS AND WE DONT UNALIVE OUR OWN, since you people have taken it upon yourselves to unalive other Africans because according to you guys other African nationalities living in South Africa are taking your jobs.
“WE ARE STANDING IN SOLIDARITY TO SAY NO TO THE PROMOTERS AND CELEBRITIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA WHO HAVE REFUSED TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THESE ATTACKS ON OTHER AFRICANS LIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA.
“#NOTOXENOPHOBICATTACKS #ratelmovement SAYNOTOXENOPHOBICATTACKS.”
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Also weighing in on the controversy, the African Action Congress’ 2027 presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, opposed the boycott campaign, insisting that Tyla should not be blamed for the attacks.
“Nigerians should direct their anger at their real enemies… No one should hold a talented musician like @Tyllaaaaaaa vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia,” Sowore wrote on X, adding that “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
The removal of Lagos from the tour schedule comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa following reports of fresh xenophobic attacks and the deaths of Nigerian nationals, including Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Tyla nor her management had explained the reason for removing Lagos from the tour itinerary.
Similarly, the concert promoters had yet to announce whether the show had been cancelled or postponed.
