South African vocalist Tyla has pulled her upcoming Lagos show from her APop world tour itinerary. This decision follows significant criticism from Nigerians online, who expressed concerns regarding recent accounts of xenophobic violence against Nigerians residing in South Africa.
When the tour dates were first released on Monday, a Lagos performance was scheduled for December 22, joining a list of stops across Europe, North America, and South Africa. This announcement triggered immediate negative feedback from Nigerian social media users, who debated the appropriateness of the visit given the sensitive diplomatic climate. Some individuals even advocated for a boycott of the event.
Conversely, others suggested that artistic performances should remain separate from political issues, noting that musicians should not be penalized for broader societal tensions. Notable voices also joined the discourse, including media personality Do2dtun and activist Omoyele Sowore, who cautioned against focusing anger on the performer.
While the singer and her management team have not issued a formal statement, the Lagos concert date has been scrubbed from the official ticketing website. The revised schedule now features European and North American legs, alongside dates in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It remains unclear if the Lagos event will be rescheduled later.
