Xenophobia: Tyla removes Lagos from APOP World Tour
South African Singer Tyla Excludes Lagos from APOP World Tour Amid Boycott Calls
South African Grammy-winning artist Tyla, whose full name is Tyla Laura Seethal, has officially removed Lagos from her APOP World Tour itinerary. This decision follows a public outcry in Nigeria calling for a boycott of her scheduled concert due to ongoing xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
A review of her tour schedule on Friday indicated that the Lagos concert, originally set for December 22, is no longer featured. While her performances in Europe, North America, and South Africa remain intact, Nigeria has been removed from the list of tour destinations.
The announcement of Lagos as the sole Nigerian city on the tour had elicited mixed responses on social media, with some Nigerians urging a cancellation. They argued that South African entertainers should not perform in Nigeria while their compatriots are reportedly facing xenophobia in South Africa. Conversely, others defended the concert, suggesting that artists should not be held accountable for broader political issues.
Political activist and 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore criticized the backlash against Tyla, asserting that she should not be held responsible for xenophobic acts. He urged Nigerians to focus their anger on the true sources of the issue, stating, “No one should hold a talented musician like @Tyllaaaaaaa vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia.”
The situation escalated when activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, announced plans to mobilize his group, the Ratel Movement, to prevent the concert from taking place. In a statement on Facebook, he declared, “Tyla Show Will Not Be Happening In Nigeria,” and emphasized solidarity against xenophobic violence.
Tyla’s decision to cancel her Lagos appearance comes amid heightened concerns regarding the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, following recent reports of additional xenophobic attacks and the deaths of Nigerian nationals, including Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
