The Lagos date on South African singer Tyla's APOP World Tour has disappeared from the official public itinerary, following a sustained social media campaign urging a boycott of her planned performance in Nigeria. Checks carried out by PREMIUM TIMES on the tour's official website on Friday no longer list Lagos among the 34 cities on the schedule, yet neither Tyla, her management team, nor concert organisers have issued any statement explaining whether the show has been cancelled, postponed, or temporarily removed.
The move comes just days after the Grammy-winning artiste had confirmed Lagos as a stop on her highly anticipated tour in support of her sophomore album APOP, released on 24 July. The concert was initially scheduled for 22 December 2026, and Lagos was billed as her only Nigerian stop as well as the first African date on the tour.
Lagos date vanishes from itinerary
According to the tour schedule, the APOP World Tour is set to begin in Paris on 12 October before moving through Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America. From there, Tyla was expected to travel to Africa, with Lagos serving as the continent's opening show, followed by homecoming performances in Cape Town on 4 January and Johannesburg on 9 January 2027.
However, when this newspaper revisited the official tour page on Friday, the Lagos listing had been scraped from the itinerary. Notably, the two South African concerts remain in place, suggesting the removal was deliberate rather than a technical error. No official explanation has accompanied the change, leaving fans and critics alike to speculate on the status of the Nigerian show.
Boycott campaign gathers momentum
The development follows a wave of online protests led by Nigerian social media users who urged a boycott of the concert. Critics argued that a South African artiste should not stage a show in Nigeria at a time when concerns persist over xenophobic attacks and the alleged mistreatment of Nigerians living in South Africa. Recent months have seen renewed scrutiny of anti-immigration protests, raids on migrant-owned spaza shops, and reports of attacks on foreign nationals.
The controversy intensified following the death of Nigerian national Chika Ibeh during a South African Police Service operation in Cape Town on 23 July. South Africa's Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) confirmed that it was investigating the circumstances surrounding Ibeh's death, with preliminary post-mortem findings indicating multiple bruises and abrasions. The incident further strained bilateral relations, prompting the Nigerian government to demand a thorough investigation.
Among those who publicly backed the boycott campaign were content creator Solomon Buchi, activist VeryDarkMan, broadcaster Dotun, and various other social media personalities who urged Nigerians not to attend the concert. Some critics also questioned why Tyla had not publicly addressed the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
Mixed reactions and opposition to boycott
The campaign drew sharp divisions. Some Nigerians argued that Tyla should not be held responsible for the actions of the South African government or its security agencies. Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was among those who opposed the boycott. In a post on X, Sowore insisted that responsibility for xenophobia should rest with political leaders rather than entertainers.
Supporters of Tyla's Lagos appearance further emphasised that music and cultural exchange should remain separate from diplomatic disagreements. Others, however, maintained that proceeding with the concert while concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa persist would undermine ongoing calls for accountability.
Entertainment ties and political tensions
The controversy has also highlighted the deep-rooted cultural relationship between Nigeria and South Africa's entertainment industries. Tyla has previously visited Lagos and collaborated with Nigerian artistes, including Ayra Starr. Likewise, Nigerian stars such as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tems, Omah Lay, and DJ Spinall have worked with South African artistes and producers over the years. South Africa's amapiano sound has become firmly established in Nigeria's music industry, strengthening creative ties between the two nations.
The dispute comes amid a separate diplomatic row over reports that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied entry visas to South Africa. Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan subsequently called on the Federal Government to apply the principle of reciprocity by reviewing visa applications for South African artistes and their entourages. The senator stressed that her position was not directed at Tyla personally, but was aimed at ensuring "mutual respect" in Nigeria's relations with South Africa.
Uncertain future for Lagos concert
For now, Tyla's Cape Town and Johannesburg concerts remain listed on the tour schedule, while the fate of her planned 22 December Lagos performance remains uncertain. Neither Tyla, her management, nor the concert organisers had publicly commented on the status of the Lagos concert at the time of filing this report. Fans hoping for a clarifying statement may have to wait, as the singer has remained silent on the matter across her social media channels.
