Tyla Drops Lagos from APOP World Tour
South African Grammy‑winning singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the itinerary of her APOP World Tour. A review of her official tour website on Friday showed that the December 22 Lagos date is no longer listed, while the remaining European, North American and South African stops remain unchanged.
As of the time of this report, neither Tyla nor her management has issued an explanation for the removal. The concert promoters have also not announced any cancellation or postponement of the planned show.
When the tour was first announced, Lagos was highlighted as the sole Nigerian stop. The inclusion of the city sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians urging a boycott in protest against alleged xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans living in South Africa.
Critics argued that South African artistes should not be allowed to perform in Nigeria while Nigerians reportedly face hostility abroad. Others countered that musicians should not be held responsible for the political and social issues of their home countries.
Former Big Brother Naija housemate Pere Egbi joined the debate, urging the Nigeria Immigration Service to deny visas to Tyla and her team. He referenced the recent visa difficulties experienced by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and her crew, whose South African concert was cancelled after they were allegedly refused entry.
Social activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, intensified the controversy by threatening to mobilise his “Ratel Movement” to prevent the concert from taking place. In a Facebook post he declared that the Tyla show would not happen in Nigeria, accusing South Africans of “unaliving” fellow Africans and criticising local promoters and celebrities for staying silent on xenophobic violence.
In contrast, 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress opposed the boycott, stating that Tyla should not be held liable for the actions of others. He urged Nigerians to focus on their “real enemies” and insisted that “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
Tyla’s removal of the Lagos date adds a new twist to the ongoing dispute, but it remains unclear whether the change is a permanent cancellation, a postponement, or simply a schedule adjustment. The singer and her management have yet to release an official statement clarifying the situation.
