African Action Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Omoyele Sowore, has opposed calls for Nigerians to boycott South African singer Tyla’s planned Lagos concert over renewed concerns about xenophobic attacks.
Sowore argued that the anger over attacks against Nigerians in South Africa should be directed at political leaders rather than musicians who are not responsible for government policies or the actions of perpetrators.
He made the position known in a post on X on Wednesday as debate continued over Tyla’s planned performance in Lagos.
The Grammy-winning singer recently announced her APOP World Tour, with a Lagos concert scheduled for December 22. The announcement generated mixed reactions, with some Nigerians calling for a boycott in protest against alleged xenophobia in South Africa.
Others, however, argued that entertainers should not be held responsible for political and social problems between countries.
Sowore said Nigerians should instead hold leaders accountable for conditions that have contributed to xenophobic violence and the treatment of Nigerians abroad.
He specifically criticised President Bola Tinubu and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, arguing that political leadership should bear responsibility for addressing the underlying problems.
The AAC candidate also rejected the suggestion that Tyla should be held accountable for xenophobic attacks simply because she is South African.
According to him, there is no justification for placing responsibility for the actions of politicians or perpetrators of violence on an artiste without evidence that the artiste supported or enabled such conduct.
Sowore subsequently called for Tyla’s Lagos concert to proceed despite the controversy surrounding her planned visit.
The debate comes amid renewed concerns over the safety and treatment of Nigerians in South Africa, following reports of xenophobic violence and the death of Nigerian national Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
The Nigerian government has also taken steps to assist Nigerians affected by the violence. More than 1,500 Nigerians were reportedly evacuated from South Africa, with the final government-supported flight bringing 308 returnees and three Nigerian officials to Lagos on July 15.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on July 21 resolved to investigate the human and economic losses suffered by Nigerians in South Africa, including possible compensation, stronger diplomatic engagement and better protection for Nigerians living abroad.
The controversy over Tyla’s Lagos concert is therefore unfolding against a wider diplomatic and public debate over xenophobia and the protection of Nigerians outside the country.