Tyla Drops Lagos from APOP World Tour
South African Grammy‑winning artist Tyla has quietly removed Lagos from the schedule of her APOP World Tour. A review of her official tour website on Friday showed that the December 22 show in Nigeria is no longer listed, while dates for Europe, North America and South Africa remain unchanged.
Background of the Controversy
The Lagos stop was originally announced as the sole Nigerian date on Tyla’s tour, which was set to conclude with performances in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9. Shortly after the announcement, social media erupted with mixed reactions. Some Nigerians urged a boycott, citing alleged xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans living in South Africa.
Opponents of the boycott argued that musicians should not be punished for the actions of their compatriots. The debate gained further traction when former Big Brother Naija housemate Pere Egbi called on Nigerian immigration authorities to deny visas to Tyla and her team, mirroring the visa refusal reportedly faced by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and her crew ahead of a planned South African concert.
Public Figures Weigh In
Social activist Martins Otse, known online as VeryDarkMan, threatened to mobilise his “Ratel Movement” to prevent the concert from taking place if it proceeded. In a Facebook post he wrote:
“TYLA SHOW WILL NOT BE HAPPENING IN NIGERIA. THIS IS A MESSAGE TO SOUTH AFRICANS. WE ARE AFRICANS AND WE DON’T KILL OUR OWN, since you people have taken it upon yourselves to kill other Africans because according to you guys other African nationalities living in South Africa are taking your jobs.”
VeryDarkMan
He also criticised South African promoters and celebrities for staying silent on the alleged attacks.
In contrast, 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress defended Tyla, stating that she should not be held vicariously liable for xenophobic acts committed by others. He urged Nigerians to let the concert proceed.
Current Status and Unanswered Questions
As of the time of this report, neither Tyla nor her management has issued an official statement explaining the removal of the Lagos date. It remains unclear whether the change represents a permanent cancellation, a postponement, or a simple revision of the tour itinerary. Concert promoters have also not announced any cancellation or postponement publicly.
The situation continues to fuel discussions about cultural exchanges, visa reciprocity, and the broader issue of xenophobia between Nigeria and South Africa.
