Tyla drops Lagos from  A-POP World tour after boycott campaign

Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the schedule of her A*POP World Tour, following an intense online boycott campaign by Nigerians over her perceived silence on recurring anti-migrant and xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

The Lagos concert, originally scheduled for December 22, 2026, quietly disappeared from the tour itinerary, fueling speculation that the decision was influenced by mounting public pressure. Neither Tyla nor her management has issued an official statement explaining the removal of the Nigerian stop.

Boycott Campaign Gains Momentum

The controversy began after prominent Nigerian social media personalities and activists urged fans to boycott the singer’s planned performance, arguing that she had failed to speak out against the reported mistreatment of Nigerians living in South Africa.

Among those who publicly opposed the concert were social media activist VeryDarkMan and author and content creator Solomon Buchi, both of whom questioned whether Nigerian audiences should continue to support South African entertainers while many Nigerians allegedly face discrimination and xenophobic hostility abroad.

The campaign gathered significant traction across social media platforms, with hashtags and commentary calling for the cancellation of the Lagos performance.

READ ALSO; Tyla’s planned Nigeria concert sparks boycott campaign as xenophobia debate resurfaces

Critics also linked their opposition to previous diplomatic and social tensions between Nigeria and South Africa, including the repatriation of Nigerians and controversies surrounding beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina, whose nationality became the subject of intense public debate in South Africa.

Lagos Date Quietly Removed

Rather than announcing a cancellation, the Lagos concert was quietly removed from Tyla’s published tour schedule, prompting widespread speculation among fans and industry observers.

While no official explanation has been provided, many social media users interpreted the disappearance of the Lagos date as a response to the sustained backlash.

The singer’s management has yet to indicate whether the concert will be rescheduled or permanently cancelled.

Debate Extends Beyond Music

The controversy quickly evolved into a broader discussion about African solidarity, diplomacy and cultural exchange.

Supporters of the boycott argued that Nigerian audiences should not support entertainers from a country where fellow Nigerians have repeatedly reported experiencing xenophobic attacks and discrimination.

According to critics, allowing South African artists to continue benefiting commercially from Nigeria’s entertainment market without acknowledging such concerns reflects an imbalance in cultural and economic relations between the two countries. Others, however, disagreed with the campaign.

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore argued that artists should not be held personally responsible for the actions or policies of their governments or the conduct of some citizens.

He maintained that cultural exchanges should remain separate from political disputes, warning against imposing collective responsibility on entertainers for societal problems beyond their control.

Social Media Reflects Wider Questions

The debate has since expanded beyond Tyla’s cancelled performance, prompting conversations about how African nations treat one another’s citizens, the responsibilities of public figures during diplomatic tensions, and whether entertainers should use their influence to address issues affecting fans across the continent.

For many commentators, the controversy has become a broader reflection on Pan-African unity, mutual respect and the role of culture in strengthening relationships between African countries.

As discussions continue online, Tyla’s Lagos concert remains absent from her A*POP World Tour schedule, leaving fans awaiting an official explanation from the singer or her management.