South African Grammy Award-winning singer Tyla has dropped the Lagos leg of her upcoming APOP World Tour, following an intense wave of public backlash and calls for a total boycott across Nigeria.
A review of the 24-year-old artist’s official tour itinerary reveals that her performance scheduled for December 22 in Lagos has been removed. The updated tour lineup retains all dates across Europe, North America, and South Africa, leaving Nigeria completely excluded from the schedule.
Neither Tyla nor her management team has released an official statement explaining the abrupt adjustment to the tour.
Public outcry and boycott campaigns
The tension began shortly after Tyla unveiled the dates for her global tour, which originally featured Lagos as her sole performance hub in West Africa.
The announcement triggered immediate criticism on social media platforms, where many Nigerians voiced frustration over recurring reports of xenophobic violence targeting Nigerian nationals in South Africa, as well as the recent large-scale deportation of non-citizens accused of illegal residency.
Prominent figures and online influencers urged music fans to boycott the show, arguing that South African entertainers should not host high-profile events in Nigeria while tensions surrounding the mistreatment of Nigerians abroad remain unresolved.
A divided reaction across social media
The debate surrounding the show’s removal has divided opinion online. While boycott organisers viewed the tour modification as a necessary stand against systemic anti-immigrant sentiment, others argued that artists should not be held personally responsible for geopolitical friction or the actions of foreign governments.
Prior to the removal, several civil rights activists and commentators weighed in. Some called for direct action to halt the event, whereas others maintained that cultural exchange and musical performances should remain separate from political disputes.
With the December date now officially removed from her website, Tyla’s African performances will focus exclusively on her native South Africa, concluding with dates in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
