South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla’s scheduled Lagos concert has been removed from the public itinerary for her APOP World Tour following days of backlash and boycott calls by some Nigerians over concerns about the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.

Checks on the tour’s official website on Friday showed that the Lagos date was no longer listed among the 34-city schedule. However, neither Tyla nor her management has explained the change or confirmed whether the concert has been cancelled, postponed or temporarily removed.

The development comes after a heated online campaign in which some Nigerians urged the cancellation of the concert, arguing that allowing the performance to go ahead would send the wrong message amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks and the alleged mistreatment of Nigerians living in South Africa.

Lagos date disappears from tour schedule

Tyla had originally announced Lagos as one of the stops on her 34-date APOP World Tour, with the Nigerian concert scheduled for December 22, 2026.

The world tour, organised in support of her sophomore album, *APOP*, released on July 24, is expected to begin in Paris on October 12 before moving across several cities in Europe, the United Kingdom and North America.

Lagos was billed as the only Nigerian stop on the tour and the first African destination before Tyla’s homecoming performances in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9, 2027.

While the Lagos concert has disappeared from the public itinerary, the South African dates remain listed on the official tour website. As of the time of filing this report, neither Tyla, her management nor the concert organisers had issued any statement explaining the removal of the Lagos event.

Boycott campaign gains momentum

The removal of the Lagos date follows sustained calls by some Nigerians for a boycott of the concert.

Critics argued that it would be inappropriate for a South African artiste to perform in Nigeria while reports of xenophobic attacks and hostility towards Nigerians in South Africa continue to generate public concern.

The controversy intensified after the death of Nigerian national Chika Ibeh during a South African Police Service operation in Cape Town on July 23.

South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) confirmed that it had opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ibeh’s death after preliminary post-mortem findings reportedly showed multiple bruises and abrasions.

The incident further heightened diplomatic tensions between both countries and prompted the Nigerian government to demand a comprehensive investigation.

Divided public opinion

Several prominent Nigerians publicly supported calls for a boycott of Tyla’s Lagos concert.

Among them were content creator Solomon Buchi, activist VeryDarkMan, broadcaster Dotun and numerous social media users, who argued that attending the concert would undermine ongoing demands for justice and accountability over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.

Some critics also questioned why Tyla had not publicly spoken about concerns surrounding xenophobic attacks or the treatment of Nigerians living in her home country.

However, the campaign also attracted criticism from those who argued that entertainers should not be blamed for the actions of governments or security agencies.

Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was among those who opposed the boycott, insisting that responsibility for xenophobia should rest with political leaders rather than musicians.

Strong entertainment relationship

Despite the controversy, Nigeria and South Africa continue to enjoy strong cultural and entertainment ties.

Tyla has previously visited Lagos and collaborated with Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, while several Nigerian stars, including Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tems, Omah Lay and DJ Spinall, have worked with South African artistes and producers.

South Africa’s amapiano sound has also gained widespread popularity in Nigeria, strengthening collaborations between musicians from both countries.

Supporters of Tyla’s planned Lagos performance argued that music should remain separate from diplomatic disagreements, warning against allowing political tensions to damage artistic and cultural exchanges.

Concert fate remains uncertain

The controversy comes amid a separate diplomatic dispute following reports that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied entry visas to South Africa.

The reports prompted Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to call on the Federal Government to apply the principle of reciprocity by reviewing visa applications involving South African artistes and their entourages.

According to the senator, the call was not directed at Tyla personally but was intended to ensure mutual respect in relations between both countries.

For now, Tyla’s Cape Town and Johannesburg concerts remain on the official tour schedule, while the status of her planned December 22 Lagos performance remains unclear. Neither the singer, her management nor the concert organisers has publicly commented on whether the event has been cancelled, postponed or will be reinstated at a later date.