South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the schedule of her APOP World Tour, days after her planned December 22 concert in Nigeria triggered calls for a boycott over renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
A check by Chronicle NG on Tyla’s official tour website on Friday showed that Lagos, which was previously listed for December 22, had been removed from the itinerary.
The updated schedule maintains all previously announced dates across Europe, North America, and South Africa but no longer includes Nigeria.
Chronicle NG reported on Monday that Tyla unveiled the APOP World Tour, with Lagos listed as the only Nigerian stop before the tour concluded with performances in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9.
The announcement generated heated reactions on social media, with several Nigerians calling for a boycott of the event in protest of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
Some social media users contended that no South African singer should perform in Nigeria while stories of attacks on Nigerians continued, while others stated that musicians should not be held accountable for political or social issues.
On Thursday, activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, vowed to mobilize members of his “Ratel Movement” to prevent the concert from taking place.
In a post on his Facebook page, VDM wrote, “Tyla show will not be happening in Nigeria.
“This is a message to South Africans. We are Africans and we do not 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.”
Earlier, Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress’s 2027 presidential contender, condemned the boycott effort, saying Nigerians should not blame Tyla for xenophobic violence.
“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,” Sowore wrote on X, adding that “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
The removal of the Lagos concert from Tyla’s tour schedule raises concerns about the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa, following reports of xenophobic attacks and the death of a Nigerian national, Chika Ibe, in Cape Town.
The concert promoters have not announced any cancellations or postponements.
