Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the itinerary of her APOP World Tour following widespread backlash over renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
A check of the singer’s official tour website on Friday confirmed that the Lagos concert, which had been scheduled for December 22, no longer appears on the list of tour dates.
The updated itinerary still features shows across Europe, North America and South Africa, but the Nigerian performance has been excluded without any official explanation.
The announcement of the Lagos concert earlier this week had sparked intense debate on social media, with some Nigerians calling for the show to be boycotted in response to reports of attacks on fellow Nigerians living in South Africa. Others insisted that entertainers should not be blamed for issues beyond their control.
The controversy escalated after activist VeryDarkMan vowed that members of his Ratel Movement would prevent the concert from taking place.
“TYLA SHOW WILL NOT BE HAPPENING IN NIGERIA.
“This is a message to SOUTH AFRICANS. WE ARE AFRICANS AND WE DONT 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.”
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On the other hand, activist and former African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore argued that Tyla should not be held responsible for xenophobic attacks.
“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 wrote on X, adding, “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
The decision to remove Lagos from the tour schedule comes amid renewed concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa following reports of fresh xenophobic attacks and the killing of Nigerian national Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
Neither Tyla, her management nor the concert organisers has issued a statement explaining the removal of the Lagos show or confirming whether it has been cancelled or postponed.