Tyla Drops Lagos Concert 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 show is no longer present, while dates across Europe, North America and South Africa remain unchanged.
As of this report, neither Tyla nor her management has issued an explanation for the omission, and the concert promoters have not announced a cancellation or postponement.
Background of the Controversy
When the APOP World Tour was first announced, Lagos was highlighted as the sole Nigerian stop. The inclusion triggered a heated debate on social media, with many Nigerians urging a boycott in protest against alleged xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans living in South Africa.
Opponents of the boycott argued that musicians should not be held accountable for the political and social challenges of their home countries.
Calls for Action from Nigerian Public Figures
Former Big Brother Naija housemate Pere Egbi urged the Nigeria Immigration Service to deny visas to Tyla and her team, citing the recent visa difficulties faced by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and her crew in South Africa.
Social activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, threatened to mobilise his “Ratel Movement” to prevent the concert from taking place, declaring that the show would not happen in Nigeria and condemning South African promoters and celebrities for staying silent on xenophobic violence.
Counter‑Arguments and Official Silence
Presidential aspirant Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress opposed the boycott, stating that Tyla should not be blamed for the actions of others and insisting that “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
To date, Tyla and her representatives have not clarified whether the Lagos date has been cancelled, postponed, or simply adjusted in the tour routing.
