Tyla Drops Lagos From World Tour Itinerary Amid Xenophobia Boycott Calls
Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the itinerary of her APOP World Tour following widespread calls by Nigerians for a boycott over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa .
A review of the singer’s official tour website on Friday confirmed that the Lagos concert, initially scheduled for December 22, 2026, is no longer listed among the 34-city tour schedule . The updated itinerary retains performances across Europe, North America, and two South African shows in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9, 2027 .
The controversy erupted after Tyla unveiled her world tour on Monday, with Lagos listed as her only Nigerian stop . The announcement sparked heated reactions on Nigerian social media, where critics argued that a South African artiste should not perform in Nigeria while concerns persist over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa . The debate revived long-standing tensions between Africa’s two largest economies.
The campaign gained momentum after Nigerian author Solomon Buchi questioned Tyla’s silence over the attacks . Media personality Do2dtun questioned the promoters behind the planned Lagos show, while activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, threatened to mobilise members of his “Ratel Movement” to disrupt the concert if it proceeded . In a Facebook post, Otse declared, “TYLA SHOW WILL NOT BE HAPPENING IN NIGERIA,” citing ongoing xenophobic violence and the deportation case facing Chidinma Adetshina in South African courts .
However, not all supported the boycott. Human rights activist and 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore urged Nigerians to direct their frustrations toward political leaders rather than the artiste . “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 .
The controversy comes amid strained Nigeria-South Africa relations following reports of anti-migrant violence . Nigerian officials met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy in Abuja on Monday, with Nigeria revealing that at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa since 2022 through mob violence, hate-related attacks, and extra-judicial killings . More than 160,000 foreign nationals have reportedly left South Africa, including approximately 1,500 Nigerians .
South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, announced on Wednesday that about 80 suspected members of vigilante groups had been arrested across five to six provinces over attacks targeting migrants . Moroe insisted the South African government does not support attacks on foreigners, describing allegations of state sponsorship as “fake news” .
Neither Tyla nor her management has publicly addressed the removal of the Lagos concert . The fate of the December 22 show remains uncertain, with no official confirmation whether it has been permanently cancelled or merely postponed .