Tyla Pulls Lagos Date From World Tour Amid Nigeria-South Africa Tensions
South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the schedule of her upcoming APop World Tour following a wave of criticism from some Nigerians over renewed reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerian nationals in South Africa.
The singer announced the global tour earlier this week, with an initial itinerary that included a concert in Lagos on December 22 alongside performances across Europe, North America and South Africa.
However, the planned Nigerian stop quickly became the subject of intense debate on social media. Some users questioned the decision to stage a concert in Lagos amid reports of fresh xenophobic violence in South Africa, with several calling for the event to be boycotted.
The backlash reignited longstanding tensions between Africa’s two largest economies, where periodic outbreaks of xenophobic attacks in South Africa have previously strained diplomatic and cultural relations.
Others defended the singer, arguing that entertainers should not be held accountable for political or societal issues and that music should remain separate from diplomatic disputes.
The controversy also drew reactions from prominent Nigerians. Media personality Do2dtun questioned the promoters behind the planned Lagos concert, while activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore urged Nigerians to direct their frustrations at political leaders rather than the artist.
Neither Tyla nor her management has publicly commented on the criticism.
However, the Lagos date has since disappeared from the official ticketing platform for the tour. The previously listed December 22 concert is no longer included in the updated schedule, which now features performances across Europe, North America and two South African shows in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9.
It remains unclear whether the Lagos concert has been cancelled outright or postponed to a later date, as no official explanation has been provided.
Tyla rose to international prominence with her global hit Water and became the youngest African artist to win a Grammy Award. The removal of the Lagos stop comes as cultural exchanges between Nigeria and South Africa continue to be periodically affected by wider political and social tensions.
