Xenophobia: Tyla removes Lagos show from world tour following boycott calls
South African Grammy-winning artiste Tyla has removed her scheduled Lagos concert from her A-Pop World Tour after the announcement sparked backlash over renewed concerns about the treatment of Nigerians and other immigrants living in South Africa.
The Lagos show, which had been scheduled for December 22, was removed from Tyla’s official tour website on Friday, with no official explanation for the change.
Before the change, Tyla’s A-Pop World Tour was scheduled to span 34 dates across Europe, Africa, and North America before concluding next year in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The development followed criticism on social media, with many calling for a boycott of the concert, arguing that it was insensitive given the renewed concerns over xenophobia against migrants, especially Nigerians living in South Africa.
Several media personalities and celebrities backed the boycott, questioning Tyla’s silence over the anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa.
However, others argued that she should not be held responsible for her country’s political actions, insisting that music should not be mixed with politics.
Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a post on Instagram, called on the federal government to apply the “principle of reciprocity” by reviewing visa applications for South African artistes.
She also recalled that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and her team were blocked from entering South Africa, leading to the cancellation of two shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
“If it is confirmed that our Nigerian artiste Ayra Starr and her team were denied entry visas to South Africa, leading to the cancellation of their engagements, then Nigeria should respond with equivalent measures until Nigerian citizens and artistes are accorded fair and respectful treatment.
“Our foreign policy should protect the dignity of Nigerians everywhere and ensure that respect between nations is mutual, not one-sided,” she added.
In recent weeks, South Africa has witnessed anti-immigration protests, with reports of attacks on foreign-owned businesses and homes following calls by demonstrators for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.
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