South African music sensation Tyla has scrubbed Lagos from the itinerary of her much-anticipated APOP World Tour, after mounting pressure from Nigerians angered by recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The “Water” hitmaker’s official tour website, which had prominently listed a December 22 date at a yet-to-be-announced Lagos venue, now shows no mention of Nigeria. The tour is still set to hit major cities across Europe and North America before wrapping up in South Africa early next year, but the sole West African stop has vanished without explanation.
The backlash began almost immediately after the tour was unveiled on Monday. Nigerian social media users flooded platforms with calls to boycott the concert, arguing that it was insensitive for a South African artiste to perform in Nigeria while reports of attacks on Nigerians—including the recent death of Chika Ibe in Cape Town—continued to surface.
The campaign gained significant traction on Thursday when controversial activist VeryDarkMan threatened to physically disrupt the show. In a fiery Facebook post, he vowed that his Ratel Movement would ensure “TYLA SHOW WILL NOT BE HAPPENING IN NIGERIA,” framing the boycott as an act of solidarity with victims of xenophobia.
The move has divided public opinion. Human rights activist and AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore cautioned against punishing the artiste for political failures, tweeting that Tyla should not be held “vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia.” He argued that Nigerians should channel their frustrations toward their own leaders rather than a performing artiste.
As of Friday morning, Tyla’s management team has remained silent on the rationale behind the Lagos removal. Concert promoters in Nigeria have also not issued any formal statement regarding a cancellation or refund process, leaving ticket holders and fans in limbo.
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