South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the schedule of her APOP World Tour following growing calls by some Nigerians to boycott her planned concert over renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
A check of the singer’s official tour website on Friday showed that the Lagos performance, earlier scheduled for December 22, was no longer included in the list of tour dates. The updated schedule retained all previously announced performances across Europe, North America and South Africa, but Nigeria was missing from the itinerary.
The development came just days after the announcement of the Lagos concert sparked heated debate on social media, with many Nigerians expressing anger over the continued attacks on foreign nationals, especially Nigerians, in South Africa.
Before the latest update, Lagos was the only Nigerian city included in Tyla’s APOP World Tour. The tour was expected to end with performances in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9, both in South Africa.
Although the removal of Lagos from the tour schedule has fuelled speculation, neither Tyla nor her management has explained why the Nigerian concert was dropped. The organisers of the concert have also not announced whether the show has been cancelled or postponed.
The decision has generated fresh reactions online, with many linking it to the growing campaign against the concert.
Several Nigerians had argued that it would be wrong for a South African artiste to perform in Nigeria while reports of attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals continued in South Africa. According to them, allowing the concert to go ahead would amount to ignoring the suffering of victims of xenophobic violence.
Others, however, disagreed with that position, insisting that entertainers should not be blamed for political or social problems beyond their control. They argued that Tyla should not be punished for actions carried out by criminals or for the failure of governments to address xenophobia.
The controversy became more intense on Thursday after social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, publicly threatened to mobilise members of his “Ratel Movement” to stop the concert if it was held in Lagos.
In a message posted on his Facebook page, Otse declared that Tyla’s concert would not take place in Nigeria.
He said the campaign was aimed at protesting attacks on Africans living in South Africa, accusing some South Africans of targeting fellow Africans over claims that foreigners were taking their jobs.
Otse also criticised South African celebrities and promoters whom he accused of remaining silent despite repeated reports of xenophobic violence against other Africans.
Using the hashtags #NoToXenophobicAttacks and RatelMovement, he called on Nigerians to stand in solidarity with victims of the attacks and reject the planned concert.
His comments attracted widespread attention on social media, with supporters praising the move as a strong message against xenophobia, while critics argued that stopping a music concert would not solve the problem.
Among those who opposed the boycott campaign was the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore urged Nigerians not to direct their anger at Tyla, saying she should not be held responsible for crimes committed by others.
In a post on X, the former presidential candidate said Nigerians should focus on those truly responsible for the attacks instead of targeting an artiste.
He described Tyla as a talented musician and argued that she should not be made to suffer for the actions of people involved in xenophobic violence.
According to him, the Lagos concert should have gone ahead despite the tensions.
The disagreement between supporters and opponents of the boycott reflects wider concerns over the recurring problem of xenophobia in South Africa.
For years, attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and other Africans living in South Africa, have strained relations between African countries.
Many of the attacks have been linked to claims by some South Africans that foreign nationals are taking jobs, engaging in crime or placing pressure on public services. These claims have often led to violence, destruction of businesses and, in some cases, deaths.
Nigeria has repeatedly condemned such attacks and called on the South African government to protect Nigerians living in the country.
The latest controversy follows renewed reports of attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, including the reported death of a Nigerian identified as Chika Ibe in Cape Town. The incident has sparked fresh outrage in Nigeria and renewed calls for stronger diplomatic action between both countries.
Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have experienced periods of tension over xenophobic violence in recent years despite the strong political and economic ties shared by both countries.
The two nations are among Africa’s largest economies and have maintained close cooperation through the African Union and other continental organisations. However, repeated attacks on foreign nationals have remained a major source of concern.
Past incidents have led to diplomatic protests, public demonstrations and retaliatory actions, including calls by some Nigerians to boycott South African businesses operating in Nigeria.
The latest dispute involving Tyla’s concert shows how cultural and entertainment events can quickly become caught up in wider political and social issues.
Tyla, one of South Africa’s biggest music exports, rose to international fame with her hit song Water, which earned her a Grammy Award and global recognition. Since then, she has built a growing fan base across Africa, Europe and the United States, including many admirers in Nigeria.
Her planned Lagos performance was expected to attract thousands of fans eager to see the award-winning singer perform live for the first time in the country.
However, with Lagos now removed from the official tour schedule, uncertainty surrounds whether Nigerian fans will eventually get the opportunity to see her perform.
As of Friday, there had been no official statement from Tyla, her management team or the concert promoters explaining the reason for the removal of Lagos from the tour or whether another date could be announced in the future.
Until such clarification is provided, questions are likely to remain over whether the decision was directly linked to the boycott campaign or influenced by other factors. Either way, the development has once again highlighted the deep emotions surrounding xenophobic attacks and their impact on relations between Nigerians and South Africans.