Entertainment

Tyla Quietly Removes Lagos From 'A*POP' World Tour Due to Xenophobic Tensions

By: Frimpong | The Breaking Desk

Published: July 31, 2026

LAGOS, Nigeria — South African singer-songwriter Tyla has quietly canceled her scheduled Lagos performance on her upcoming A*POP World Tour, responding to days of sharp online backlash tied to ongoing diplomatic and social friction between Nigeria and South Africa.

The 22-year-old Grammy winner initially listed December 22, 2026, as a headline date in Lagos, a major slot during Nigeria's lucrative "Detty December" holiday concert period. However, a review of her official website and ticketing partners on Friday revealed that the Lagos show has been removed entirely, leaving her African tour legs restricted to January 2027 dates in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Neither Tyla nor her representatives at Epic Records have released a formal statement regarding the schedule adjustment.

Online Backlash Spurred the Schedule Shift

The stealth removal follows a wave of organized boycott calls across Nigerian social media platforms this week.

Public outcry escalated after Tyla announced the global tour supporting her second studio album, A*POP. Commentators pointed out the stark contrast of hosting a major South African headliner in Lagos while foreign nationals, including Nigerian migrants, continue to face systemic hostility and sporadic anti-immigrant demonstrations in South Africa.

Prominent cultural figures pushed back hard online:

Calls for Visa Denials: Media personality Do2dtun urged Nigerian immigration authorities to intervene directly, writing on X: "They can't do this to our own and we welcome their own."
Critique of Silence: Social commentator Solomon Buchi backed calls for a boycott, questioning the singer’s public silence on anti-migrant rhetoric in her home country despite collaborating heavily with West African Afrobeats talent.
Plea for Separation: Opposing the boycott, activist Omoyele Sowore warned against targeting artists for geopolitical crises, arguing that blocking cross-border performances damages pan-African cultural ties while leaving political leaders unbothered.

Pretoria-Abuja Tensions

This isn't the first time diplomatic strain between Pretoria and Abuja has disrupted the entertainment economy:

Cross-Border Cancellations: South African Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi acknowledged earlier this year that several South African performers experienced venue cancellations across West Africa due to regional anger over domestic xenophobia.
Visa Bottlenecks: Nigerian pop star Ayra Starr faced severe administrative delays securing visas for her South African dates last year, illustrating how administrative friction harms creators on both sides.

Tyla’s A*POP World Tour begins October 12 in Paris, proceeding through Europe, North America, and the UK before closing with her South African homecoming shows in early 2027.

Whether event promoters in Lagos will attempt to rebook the singer once diplomatic temperatures cool remains unconfirmed.

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