South African singer Tyla Laura Seethal, popularly known as Tyla, has removed Lagos from the schedule of her A*POP World Tour amid calls by some Nigerians to boycott the concert over xenophobia concerns.
A
review of the Grammy-winning singer’s official tour schedule on Friday showed
that the Lagos concert, initially scheduled for December 22, was no longer
listed.
The
updated schedule retained her planned performances across Europe, North America
and South Africa, but Nigeria was omitted from the destinations.
Her
African tour dates now include Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on
January 9.
Tyla
had announced Lagos as the only Nigerian city on the tour on Monday, generating
mixed reactions among Nigerians on social media.
Some
Nigerians demanded the cancellation of the concert, arguing that South African entertainers
should not be welcomed in Nigeria while Nigerians continue to face reported
xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Others
opposed the boycott, saying musicians should not be blamed for the actions of
governments or individuals.
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The
Grammy-winning singer announced on Monday that she will perform in Lagos on
December 22. The tour will wrap up with shows in Cape Town on January 4 and
Johannesburg on January 9.
Her
announcement quickly ignited debate on social media, where users expressed
opposing views on whether the concert should go ahead.
While
some Nigerians argued that the concert should be boycotted in solidarity with
victims of the reported attacks, others maintained that entertainers should not
be held responsible for the actions of governments or citizens.
Media
personality Do2dtun took to X to question the identity of the concert promoter
and called on the Nigeria Immigration Service to deny visas to Tyla and members
of her team.
“Who
is the promoter for the Tyla show? Nigerian Immigration, we are collectively
imploring you to intentionally deny Tyla and her team visas as well. They can’t
do this to our own and we welcome their own. Madness must match madness,” he
wrote.
Author
and relationship adviser Solomon Buchi also opposed the planned concert, saying
Tyla had not publicly condemned the reported xenophobic attacks.
“Tyla
is scheduled to perform in Nigeria this December, and that show must not take
place. This is one time Nigerians have to come together and stand for
something. After the xenophobic attacks we witnessed in South Africa and the
way Nigerians have been treated, Tyla didn’t say a word. Now, all of a sudden,
she wants to perform in Nigeria,” he wrote.
Content
creator Buchi Laba criticised both the singer and the event organisers, saying
it was insensitive to host the concert while many Nigerians remained upset over
reports of attacks on Africans in South Africa.
“It is
Tyla wanting to come do a show in Lagos that’s mind-boggling, and the promoters
too. Your people told us to go back home and now you want to come to our home
to perform. If Tyla cannot speak out when fellow South Africans are busy
attacking Africans, then she should not perform in any African country,” he
wrote.
However,
activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore urged Nigerians not to direct their
anger at the singer, arguing that political leaders should bear responsibility
for the situation.
“Nigerians
should direct their anger at their real enemies, the criminal leaders who
destroyed our country, reduced our people to second-class citizens across
Africa and the rest of the world, and the irresponsible South African leaders
whose failures helped create the conditions for xenophobic violence.
“No
one should hold a talented musician like Tyla liable for the crimes of
xenophobia. Artistes are not responsible for the failures of politicians except
where there is ample evidence they are enablers. Tyla’s Lagos concert must go
on,” he wrote.
Some
critics also faulted Tyla for not publicly commenting on the reported attacks.
However, there is no evidence that the singer has supported or endorsed
xenophobic violence.
The
controversy comes as concerns continue to grow over the treatment of Nigerians
and other African migrants in South Africa, with recurring incidents of
xenophobic attacks repeatedly straining relations between citizens of both
countries
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