South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla Laura Seethal, popularly known as Tyla, has removed Lagos from the schedule of her upcoming APOP World Tour following growing controversy over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
A review of the singer’s updated tour itinerary on Friday, July 31, showed that Lagos is no longer listed among the cities set to host the tour.
The Nigerian stop, which was earlier scheduled for December 22, was quietly removed from the schedule without any official statement from the singer or her management.
This comes days after Tyla announced Lagos as the only Nigerian destination on the global tour. The announcement initially generated excitement among music fans.
However, it quickly sparked heated debate across social media platforms as many Nigerians linked the planned concert to renewed reports of attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
The revised schedule still includes performances across Europe, North America and South Africa. Concert dates in Cape Town and Johannesburg remain unchanged, while Nigeria has been excluded from the latest list of destinations.
The controversy surrounding the Lagos concert grew after several Nigerians called for a boycott of the event. Critics argued that hosting a South African artist in Nigeria at a time when Nigerians were reportedly being targeted in South Africa would send the wrong message.
Others, however, maintained that musicians should not be blamed for actions carried out by criminal groups or individuals. They argued that entertainment should not be mixed with diplomatic disputes between countries.
One of the prominent voices against the boycott campaign was former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore.
Reacting to calls for the concert’s cancellation, Sowore wrote on X: “Nigerians should direct their anger at their real enemies…No one should hold a talented musician like @Tyllaaaaaaa vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia.”
He further added: “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
Despite such support, pressure continued to mount online as more Nigerians expressed anger over reports of attacks on their compatriots living in South Africa.
The campaign against the concert gained further attention after social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, openly opposed the event and threatened to mobilise members of his “Ratel Movement” against it.
In a statement posted on Facebook, VeryDarkMan declared that the concert would not hold in Nigeria.
“Tyla Show Will Not Be Happening In Nigeria.
“This is a message to South Africans. We are Africans and we don’t 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.
“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.
“#Notoxenophobicattacks #Ratelmovement Saynotoxenophobicattacks.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither the organisers of the tour nor the singer’s management had issued an official explanation regarding the cancellation of the Lagos date.
In a related development, diplomatic efforts between Nigeria and South Africa have intensified following recent attacks on foreign nationals.
Earlier this week, Nigerian and South African officials held talks in Abuja aimed at addressing growing tensions caused by the violence.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, raised concerns over what he described as repeated attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants living in South Africa.
He said the pattern of violence had become a major concern for the Nigerian government.
“We have seen a pattern that has become a concern to the Nigerian government,” Enikanolaiye said during the discussions.
The minister also stressed that criminal allegations against any foreign national should be handled through legal channels rather than mob action.
“If there are criminals, the solution is not to kill them. Get them arrested, prosecuted,” he stated.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, responded by reaffirming his country’s opposition to xenophobia.
“The protest and the violence that is happening is not state-sponsored, it is not condoned by the South African government,” Lamola said.
He further stated that the South African government remained committed to prosecuting those responsible for attacks on foreign nationals and protecting legally resident migrants.
