Fan Fury Cancels Tyla's Lagos Show on World Tour

Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla's highly anticipated Lagos concert has been removed from the official itinerary of her APOP World Tour, following days of intense public backlash, boycott calls, and a growing social media campaign. The concert, initially scheduled for 22 December 2026, was billed as her only Nigerian stop and the first African date on her 34-city tour supporting her sophomore album, APOP, which was released on 24 July.

The decision to remove the Lagos date comes amid renewed concerns among Nigerians regarding the alleged mistreatment of Nigerians in South Africa, including incidents of xenophobic attacks. Online protests intensified, with many Nigerians urging a boycott of Tyla's planned performance, arguing that allowing the show to proceed would send a wrong message given the ongoing tensions.

Checks on the tour's official website and ticketing platforms confirmed that the Lagos date no longer appears among the scheduled venues across Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America. However, Tyla and her management have yet to issue a public statement explaining the change, leaving the status of the concert — whether cancelled, postponed, or temporarily removed — officially unconfirmed. Meanwhile, her scheduled homecoming performances in Cape Town on 4 January and Johannesburg on 9 January 2027, remain listed on the itinerary.

The controversy gained traction following various reports and incidents, including renewed scrutiny of anti-immigration protests, raids on migrant-owned spaza shops, and attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. A significant point of contention was the death of Nigerian national Chika Ibeh during a South African Police Service operation in Cape Town on 23 July. South Africa's Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the circumstances, with preliminary post-mortem findings indicating multiple bruises and abrasions, an incident that further strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

The boycott campaign saw prominent figures such as content creator Solomon Buchi, activist VeryDarkMan, and broadcaster Dotun publicly backing the call for Nigerians not to attend the concert. Critics also questioned Tyla's silence on the concerns surrounding the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa. Conversely, the campaign also drew mixed reactions, with some arguing that the singer should not be held responsible for the actions of governments or security agencies. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, for instance, opposed the boycott, suggesting that frustrations should be directed at political leaders rather than entertainers.

This episode has also brought to light the intricate and often complex cultural relationship between Nigeria and South Africa's entertainment industries. Tyla herself has previously visited Lagos and collaborated with Nigerian artistes like Ayra Starr. Similarly, Nigerian music heavyweights such as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tems, Omah Lay, and DJ Spinall have worked extensively with South African artistes and producers, with the amapiano sound deeply influencing Nigeria's music scene. Supporters of Tyla's appearance argued for separating music and cultural exchange from diplomatic disagreements, while others maintained that proceeding with the concert would undermine calls for accountability regarding xenophobia.

Adding another layer to the situation is a separate diplomatic row concerning reports that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and her team were allegedly denied entry visas to South Africa. This led Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to advocate for the Nigerian Federal Government to apply the principle of reciprocity in reviewing visa applications for South African artistes. The senator clarified that her stance was aimed at ensuring "mutual respect" in bilateral relations, not at Tyla personally.

As of the latest reports, Tyla's South African concerts are still on schedule, while the fate of her planned Lagos performance remains officially unaddressed by the artiste, her management, or the concert organisers. The uncertainty underscores the ongoing diplomatic and social sensitivities impacting cultural exchanges between the two nations.