South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the schedule of her APOP World Tour, days after her planned performance in Nigeria sparked calls for a boycott over renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
A review of the singer’s official tour schedule on Friday showed that the Lagos concert, previously slated for December 22, is no longer part of the tour itinerary.
While the revised schedule still includes performances across Europe, North America and South Africa, the Nigerian stop has been omitted.
The Lagos concert had initially been announced as the only Nigerian date on the tour before the final shows in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9.
The announcement generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians urging fans to boycott the event in protest against reported attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa. Others argued that artistes should not be held responsible for political or social issues in their home countries.
The debate intensified after social media activist VeryDarkMan threatened to mobilise members of his Ratel Movement to prevent the concert from taking place.
“TYLA SHOW WILL NOT BE HAPPENING IN NIGERIA.
“This is a message to SOUTH AFRICANS. WE ARE AFRICANS AND WE DONT UNALIVE OUR OWN, since you people have taken it upon yourselves to unalive other Africans because according to you guys other African nationalities living in South Africa are taking your jobs.
“WE ARE STANDING IN SOLIDARITY TO SAY NO TO THE PROMOTERS AND CELEBRITIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA WHO HAVE REFUSED TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THESE ATTACKS ON OTHER AFRICANS LIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA.
“#NOTOXENOPHOBICATTACKS #ratelmovement SAYNOTOXENOPHOBICATTACKS.”
However, former African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore opposed the campaign against the singer, insisting she should not be blamed for xenophobic violence.
“Nigerians should direct their anger at their real enemies… No one should hold a talented musician like @Tyllaaaaaaa vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia,” Sowore wrote on X, adding that “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
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Prompt News reports the removal of Lagos from the tour comes amid renewed concern over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa following reports of fresh xenophobic attacks and the deaths of Nigerian nationals, including Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Tyla nor her management had explained why the Lagos concert was removed from the tour schedule, while the event promoters have also not announced whether the show has been cancelled or postponed.
