Backlash Over Xenophobia Forces Tyla to Remove Lagos from World Tour

Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos from her 29-city world tour itinerary following social media backlash over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

The December 22 concert date, which had initially generated excitement among Nigerian fans eager to host the “Water” hitmaker, no longer appears on the official tour schedule. Neither Tyla nor her management team has issued a public statement explaining the removal, leaving fans and critics speculating whether the boycott campaign backed by threats of disruption forced the decision.

Lagos was initially listed as the tour’s only stop in Nigeria, however, within days of the announcement, Nigerian social media users flooded platform X with calls for a boycott, arguing that it was inappropriate for a South African artist to perform in the country amid recurring reports of violence targeting Nigerian nationals living in South Africa.

The boycott campaign gained momentum when social media activist VeryDarkMan (Martins Vincent Otse) issued a stark warning to concert organisers.

“There will be no Tyla concert in Nigeria. It is not happening,” VeryDarkMan declared in a video posted on his Facebook page. “This is a warning to the organisers and the show promoters bringing Tyla to Nigeria. That show is not happening.”

He cited the deportation battle of former Miss Universe Nigeria Chidinma Adetshina who is of Nigerian descent as a symbol of the tensions, arguing that South African authorities were targeting Nigerians while expecting Nigerian fans to support South African artists.

The boycott calls have not gone unchallenged. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore emerged as one of the most prominent voices opposing the campaign, insisting that musicians should not be blamed for political failures.

“Nigerians should direct their anger at their real enemies, the criminal leaders who destroyed our country… and the irresponsible South African leaders whose failures helped create the conditions for xenophobic violence,” Sowore wrote on Facebook. “No one should hold a talented musician like Tyla liable for the crimes of xenophobia. Artistes are not responsible for the failures of politicians.”

The world tour is scheduled to span 29 cities across Europe, North America and Africa. The tour is still set to begin in Paris on 12 October 2026 and will conclude with performances in Johannesburg on 9 January 2027.