South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla has removed Lagos, Nigeria, from her official 2026 World Tour schedule following growing calls from Nigerians to boycott her planned concert over the ongoing xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The Lagos show, which had been scheduled for December 22, is no longer listed on Tyla’s official tour itinerary, sparking widespread reactions across social media.
The development comes just days after Nigerian celebrities, entertainers, influencers and thousands of social media users launched the “South Africa Thinks We’re Fools” campaign, urging organisers to cancel the concert and calling on fans to boycott the event.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Celebrities Launch Campaign Against Tyla’s Lagos Concert
At the time of filing this report, neither Tyla nor her management has issued an official statement explaining why the Lagos date disappeared from the schedule.
Likewise, the organisers of the Nigerian concert have yet to announce whether the event has been cancelled, postponed or removed for logistical reasons.
Fans can still monitor updates on Tyla’s official tour schedule through her official website: https://www.tylaworld.com/.
Boycott campaign gained momentum
The controversy began shortly after Tyla’s Lagos concert was announced.
Many Nigerians accused the South African singer of remaining silent over repeated xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa while still planning to perform before Nigerian fans.
Several celebrities publicly supported the boycott campaign, arguing that Tyla should have condemned the attacks before expecting support from Nigerian audiences.
Broadcaster Do2dtun criticised Nigerians willing to attend the concert, while former Big Brother Naija housemate Pere Egbi urged immigration authorities to deny Tyla entry into Nigeria.
Relationship commentator Solomon Buchi also questioned the singer’s silence, saying public figures have a responsibility to speak out against violence affecting fellow Africans.
Digital creator Sea King described the planned concert as insensitive, while several other influencers called for Nigerians to reject the show entirely.
Growing anger over xenophobic attacks
The renewed backlash follows another wave of reported xenophobic attacks in South Africa targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
Numerous videos circulating online in recent weeks have shown violent confrontations, attacks on businesses owned by foreign nationals and protests demanding the removal of undocumented immigrants.
The South African government has also deported more than one thousand Nigerians reportedly found to be living in the country without valid immigration documents.
These developments have intensified calls for African celebrities to openly condemn violence and discrimination regardless of nationality.
Many Nigerians argued that Tyla’s silence on the issue was disappointing, particularly given Nigeria’s longstanding support for South African entertainers.
No official explanation yet
Despite the removal of Lagos from the tour schedule, neither Tyla nor her representatives have confirmed whether the decision was influenced by the backlash.
Concert organisers have also remained silent.
The absence of an official statement has fuelled speculation online, with many Nigerians believing the boycott campaign may have influenced the decision.
Others, however, cautioned against jumping to conclusions, noting that tour schedules sometimes change because of logistical, contractual or production-related issues.
Until an official explanation is released, the exact reason behind the removal of the Lagos date remains unknown.
Social media reactions
News of the development quickly spread across social media, where many Nigerians celebrated what they viewed as the success of the boycott campaign.
Some users described the decision as proof that public pressure can influence international entertainers and concert promoters.
Others argued that African unity should not depend on music or entertainment while citizens continue to face discrimination in other African countries.
Meanwhile, some fans expressed disappointment, saying they had been looking forward to seeing Tyla perform live in Nigeria for the first time.
Others called for calm, urging people to wait for an official statement before drawing conclusions about the cancellation.
Future of the Lagos concert uncertain
For now, the Lagos stop has disappeared from Tyla’s official World Tour schedule, leaving uncertainty about whether the concert will eventually be rescheduled.
Neither refunds nor ticket updates have been announced, and there is no indication that another Nigerian date will replace the removed performance.
Until Tyla’s management or event organisers provide clarification, the fate of the Lagos concert remains uncertain.
The incident has nevertheless highlighted the growing impact of public opinion on international entertainment events, especially when broader political and social issues become intertwined with celebrity appearances.
