South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos from her upcoming APOP World Tour, following days of backlash and boycott calls from Nigerians over recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The December 22 Lagos concert, originally announced as the tour’s only Nigerian date, no longer appears on the official schedule. The rest of the tour remains unchanged, with performances across Europe, North America, and South Africa, before concluding in Cape Town and Johannesburg. However, neither Tyla nor her management has publicly explained the decision.
The controversy followed renewed outrage over xenophobic violence against Nigerians in South Africa, including the killing of Chika Ibe in Cape Town. The incident reignited long-standing frustrations over attacks on Nigerian nationals prompting many social media users to call for a boycott of the singer’s Lagos performance.
Reactions have remained divided. Activist VeryDarkMan warned that the show would face disruption if it went ahead, while some public figures urged Nigerian authorities to deny Tyla entry. Others argued that artists should not be held responsible for the actions of governments or individuals, saying cultural exchanges should not become casualties of political and social tensions.
The removal of the Lagos date has fueled further debate online about accountability, xenophobia, and the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
