Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the schedule of her APOP World Tour, days after some Nigerians called for a boycott of her planned concert over renewed concerns about xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
A review of the singer’s updated tour itinerary shows that the Lagos concert, previously scheduled for December 22, is no longer included among the confirmed dates.
The revised schedule retains performances across Europe, North America and South Africa, but Nigeria is no longer listed as one of the tour destinations.
The development follows widespread reactions after Tyla initially announced Lagos as the only Nigerian stop on the tour before concluding the concert series with performances in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The announcement divided opinion on social media.
While some Nigerians argued that South African entertainers should not perform in the country until attacks on Nigerians in South Africa are addressed, others maintained that musicians should not be blamed for actions carried out by criminal elements or political issues beyond their control.
The debate also drew reactions from political figures and activists.
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore criticised attempts to hold the singer responsible for xenophobic attacks, arguing that public anger should instead be directed at those responsible for the violence.
On the other hand, activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, vowed to mobilise members of his Ratel Movement to stop the concert from taking place in Nigeria.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan said the planned protest was intended to demonstrate solidarity with Africans affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa, while urging South African celebrities to speak out against the violence.
The decision comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa following reports of fresh xenophobic attacks, including the killing of Nigerian national Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
The removal of Lagos from the tour is expected to fuel further debate over the impact of diplomatic tensions and xenophobia on cultural and entertainment exchanges between Nigeria and South Africa.
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