South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the schedule of her A*POP World Tour, days after mounting calls by some Nigerians to boycott her planned December concert over renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
The Lagos show, initially scheduled for December 22, 2026, no longer appears on the official itinerary for the singer’s world tour. Neither Tyla nor her management has publicly explained the decision, leaving fans and industry observers to speculate on the reason for the change.
The controversy began earlier this week after Tyla unveiled dates for her global tour, with Lagos listed as the only Nigerian stop. The announcement quickly triggered criticism on social media, where some Nigerians argued that the concert should not proceed while reports of renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa continued to generate public outrage.
Several commentators and social media users called for a boycott of the concert, contending that hosting a South African artiste in Nigeria would send the wrong message amid concerns over the treatment of Nigerians living in South Africa. Others criticised Tyla for not publicly addressing the reported attacks.
However, not all reactions supported the boycott campaign. Some Nigerians argued that Tyla should not be held personally responsible for actions attributed to individuals or government authorities in South Africa, insisting that cultural exchanges and music should not be politicised. Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani was among those who defended the singer, saying she should not be blamed for xenophobic incidents in her home country.
The development comes against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa following reports of attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians. South African authorities have recently stepped up operations against suspected vigilante groups accused of targeting migrants, while both governments have pledged to address the situation through diplomatic engagement and law enforcement.
Tyla, who rose to international prominence with her hit single “Water”, announced the A*POP World Tour to promote her latest album. The tour is scheduled to span Europe, North America and Africa before concluding with performances in South Africa. While Lagos has now been removed from the itinerary, the remaining tour dates are expected to proceed as planned.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Tyla’s management nor the concert promoters had issued an official statement confirming whether the Lagos show had been cancelled permanently or could be rescheduled.
