By Queen Madaki
South African Grammy-winning singer, Tyla, has removed Lagos from the schedule of her APOP World Tour, days after her planned concert in Nigeria triggered calls for a boycott over renewed concerns about xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The Lagos performance, which was previously scheduled for December 22, has disappeared from the singer’s official tour itinerary, while other dates across Europe, North America and South Africa remain on the schedule.
The development has sparked fresh reactions among Nigerians, particularly on social media, where the planned concert had already become the subject of a heated debate over the treatment of Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
Lagos Was Initially Listed as Tyla’s Only Nigerian Tour Stop
Tyla had earlier unveiled the APOP World Tour with Lagos listed as her only Nigerian destination.
The singer’s tour schedule had placed the Lagos performance on December 22, before the tour was expected to continue with other engagements and conclude with performances in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9.
However, the Lagos date is no longer included on the latest version of the tour itinerary published on the singer’s official website.
The removal has raised questions over the future of the planned concert, although neither Tyla nor her management has publicly confirmed that the show was cancelled because of the boycott campaign.
Nigerians Call for Boycott Over Xenophobia Concerns
The controversy surrounding the Lagos concert intensified following calls from some Nigerians for a boycott of the event.
The campaign was linked to renewed concerns over alleged xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa, with some social media users arguing that South African entertainers should not perform in Nigeria while Nigerians continue to face alleged hostility and violence in South Africa.
Some of those opposed to the concert maintained that cancelling or boycotting performances by South African artistes would send a strong message against xenophobia.
However, the position has also faced criticism from Nigerians who believe entertainers should not be held responsible for political or social problems involving their countries.
VeryDarkMan Threatens to Mobilise Ratel Movement
The boycott campaign gained further attention after activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, threatened to mobilise members of his Ratel Movement to stop the concert if it went ahead.
In a post on his Facebook page, Otse criticised what he described as the failure of South African promoters and celebrities to speak out against attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
He declared his opposition to the planned performance and called for solidarity against xenophobic attacks, further intensifying the debate over whether Tyla’s concert should proceed.
The activist’s position attracted significant reactions online, with some Nigerians expressing support for the proposed protest while others argued that the singer should not be held accountable for the actions of individuals involved in xenophobic incidents.
Sowore Opposes Campaign Against Tyla’s Concert
Meanwhile, African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has opposed calls to boycott Tyla’s planned Lagos concert.
Sowore argued that Nigerians should direct their anger towards those responsible for xenophobic attacks rather than targeting an entertainer.
He maintained that Tyla should not be held responsible for the actions of people involved in xenophobic violence and called for her Lagos concert to proceed as planned.
His position added another dimension to the debate, with the controversy highlighting the wider tension between demands for accountability over xenophobia and concerns about the impact of such disputes on cultural and entertainment exchanges between Nigeria and South Africa.
Tyla Yet to Explain Removal of Lagos From Tour
Despite the removal of Lagos from the official tour schedule, Tyla and her management have not publicly explained the reason for the change.
The concert promoters have also not officially announced whether the December 22 event has been cancelled, postponed or rescheduled.
The uncertainty comes amid renewed concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa following reports of alleged xenophobic attacks and the deaths of Nigerian nationals, including a man identified as Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
As the controversy continues, the removal of Lagos from Tyla’s tour itinerary has left Nigerian fans waiting for an official statement from the singer, her management or the concert promoters on the fate of the planned performance.
The development has also renewed discussions about the effect of xenophobia on relations between Nigeria and South Africa, particularly in the areas of entertainment, tourism, business and cultural exchange.
For now, the reason for the removal of Lagos remains unconfirmed, and there is no official announcement indicating whether the concert has been permanently cancelled or could be restored to the singer’s tour schedule at a later date.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor developments surrounding the planned Lagos concert and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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