No official reason has been given for the change, but the decision came after an online petition and widespread calls from Nigerians for the 24-year-old singer to cancel her performance. The Lagos leg, which had been scheduled for December 22 to coincide with Nigeria's year-end "Detty December" concert season, was removed from the line-up on her official website by Friday morning.
A Growing Backlash
The controversy erupted after Tyla announced her world tour on Monday, with Lagos listed as the only Nigerian stop among the 34 cities on the itinerary. The announcement sparked heated reactions on Nigerian social media, with critics questioning why a South African artist should be welcomed in Nigeria while reports of attacks on Nigerians in South Africa continued.
An online petition titled "Ban Tyla from entering Nigeria until xenophobic attacks stop in South Africa" attracted thousands of signatures. On Tyla's social media pages, Nigerians cautioned her against performing in the country, criticising her for failing to speak out against the anti-migrant protests in South Africa.
Prominent Voices Join the Campaign
The boycott campaign gained significant traction after several prominent Nigerian figures weighed in against the concert. Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, openly opposed the event, threatening to mobilise members of his "Ratel Movement" to prevent the concert from taking place.
"Tyla Show Will Not Be Happening In Nigeria. 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," VeryDarkMan posted on Facebook.
"Our silence on the issue of South Africans killing our people will amount to complicity, so until every South African of influence speaks against Xenophobia and uses their platform to fight against the killings, we will put pressure on them one after the other until they do the right thing."
A Growing Movement
The pressure on South African celebrities to speak out against the attacks is part of a broader campaign targeting influential South Africans. Similar demands have been made of other South African artists and public figures, with Nigerians asking whether they are willing to condemn the violence.
The campaign reflects the depth of anger and frustration in Nigeria over the treatment of Nigerian nationals in South Africa. More than 160,000 people have fled South Africa amid recent anti-immigrant violence, according to AFP, including about 1,500 Nigerians.
Diplomatic Efforts to De-escalate
The cultural backlash comes as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between Africa's two largest economies continue. Nigeria and South Africa have agreed to de-escalate tensions, with South Africa committing to prosecute perpetrators while Nigeria compiles compensation claims for losses suffered by its citizens.
However, the anger on social media suggests that diplomatic efforts have not yet translated into a shift in public sentiment, with many Nigerians continuing to boycott South African businesses and brands.
Tyla's Rise to Fame
Tyla, whose full name is Tyla Seethal, rose to international fame with her 2023 hit song "Water," which earned her a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance in 2024. She has since collaborated with artists including Cardi B and Travis Scott, making her one of South Africa's most successful musical exports.
With reporting from Reuters, The Guardian, OkayAfrica, Notjustok, Daily Post, Vanguard, TheCable, Music In Africa, and EbonyLife TV.
