South African Grammy‑winning artist Tyla has dropped Lagos from the itinerary of her APOP World Tour.
Tour Update
A review of Tyla’s official tour website on Friday revealed that the Lagos show, originally set for December 22, is no longer listed. The remaining dates across Europe, North America and South Africa remain unchanged.
Background of the Controversy
When the tour was first announced, Lagos was highlighted as the sole Nigerian stop. The inclusion sparked a heated debate on social media, with many Nigerians urging a boycott in response to alleged xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans living in South Africa.
Calls for a Boycott
Activist Martins Otse, known online as VeryDarkMan, threatened 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 and accused South African promoters and celebrities of staying silent on attacks against fellow Africans.
Former Big Brother Naija housemate Pere Egbi also urged the Nigeria Immigration Service to deny visas to Tyla and her team, citing the recent visa denial experienced by singer Ayra Starr and her crew in South Africa.
Opposing Views
Omoyele Sowore, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, argued that Tyla should not be held responsible for the actions of others. He maintained that the Lagos concert must proceed and warned against punishing artists for broader societal issues.
Current Status
As of this report, neither Tyla nor her management has issued an official statement explaining the removal of Lagos from the tour schedule. It remains uncertain whether the change represents a cancellation, postponement or a simple revision of the itinerary.
About the Author
