South African Grammy-winning singer, Tyla, has removed Lagos from the public schedule of her APOP World Tour, days after her planned December 22, 2026 concert in Nigeria triggered boycott calls over renewed concerns about xenophobic attacks and the alleged mistreatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
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Checks on the singer’s official tour website on Friday showed that the Lagos stop, which was previously listed as her only Nigerian date, was no longer included in the itinerary.
The updated schedule retained previously announced dates across Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and South Africa, but no longer listed Nigeria.
Tyla had initially announced Lagos as part of the 34-city APOP World Tour, which is in support of her sophomore album, APOP, released on July 24.
The tour is scheduled to begin in Paris on October 12 before moving through Europe, the United Kingdom and North America. Lagos was initially billed as the first African stop on December 22, before the tour would proceed to two South African homecoming concerts in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9, 2027.
However, while the Cape Town and Johannesburg concerts remain listed, the Lagos date has disappeared from the public itinerary.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Tyla nor her management had publicly explained why the Lagos concert was removed. The concert promoters had also not announced whether the show had been cancelled, postponed or temporarily taken down.
The development followed days of heated reactions on social media after the Lagos concert was announced. Some Nigerians urged a boycott of the show, arguing that no South African artiste should perform in Nigeria while concerns persist over attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
Others, however, argued that artistes should not be held personally responsible for political, diplomatic or social issues involving their countries.
The controversy intensified after activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, threatened to mobilise members of his “Ratel Movement” to stop the concert if it went ahead.
In a post on Facebook, 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,” he added.
He said the campaign was aimed at sending a message to South African promoters and celebrities who, according to him, had failed to speak against attacks on other Africans living in South Africa.
“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,” he stated, using hashtags against xenophobic attacks.
Other public figures and social media users also backed calls for a boycott, including content creator Solomon Buchi, broadcaster Dotun, and others who argued that allowing the concert to proceed would send the wrong message.
Some critics also questioned why Tyla had not publicly addressed concerns about the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
However, the boycott campaign divided opinion among Nigerians.
Human rights activist and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, opposed the boycott, saying Nigerians should not blame Tyla for xenophobic attacks.
“Nigerians should direct their anger at their real enemies,” Sowore wrote on X, adding that no one should hold a talented musician like Tyla “vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia.”
He insisted that “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
The removal of Lagos from the tour schedule comes amid renewed scrutiny of anti-immigration protests in South Africa, raids on migrant-owned spaza shops and reports of attacks on foreign nationals.
The controversy also followed the death of Nigerian national Chika Ibeh during a South African Police Service operation in Cape Town on July 23.
South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate reportedly confirmed that it was investigating the circumstances surrounding Ibeh’s death after preliminary post-mortem findings indicated multiple bruises and abrasions.
The incident further strained relations between Nigeria and South Africa, with the Nigerian government demanding a thorough investigation.
The dispute has also highlighted the long-standing cultural relationship between Nigeria and South Africa’s entertainment industries.
Tyla has previously visited Lagos and collaborated with Nigerian artistes, including Ayra Starr, while Nigerian stars such as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tems, Omah Lay and DJ Spinall have worked with South African artistes and producers over the years.
South Africa’s amapiano sound has also become deeply rooted in Nigeria’s music industry, strengthening creative ties between both countries.
Supporters of Tyla’s Lagos performance argued that music and cultural exchange should not be affected by diplomatic disagreements, while opponents maintained that the concert should not proceed until concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa are addressed.
The controversy also comes amid a separate diplomatic row over reports that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and members of her team were allegedly denied entry visas to South Africa, resulting in the cancellation of scheduled engagements.
Following the reports, Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called on the Federal Government to apply the principle of reciprocity by reviewing visa applications submitted by South African artistes and their entourages if the alleged denial is confirmed.
The senator clarified that her position was not directed at Tyla personally, but was aimed at ensuring mutual respect in Nigeria’s relationship with South Africa.
For now, Tyla’s planned Lagos concert remains uncertain, while her South African dates in Cape Town and Johannesburg remain on the APOP World Tour schedule.
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