Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos, Nigeria, from the itinerary of her upcoming A*POP World Tour, days after facing intense backlash and boycott campaigns from Nigerian fans on social media.
The singer had initially announced a Lagos concert scheduled for December 22, 2026, as part of her 34-city global tour supporting her latest album, A*POP. However, the Nigerian date has since disappeared from her official tour schedule, fueling speculation that the show has either been cancelled or postponed.
As of July 31, 2026, neither Tyla nor her management team has issued a formal statement explaining why the Lagos date was removed or whether it will be reinstated.
The disappearance of the Lagos concert follows several days of growing criticism from Nigerian social media users, many of whom urged fans to boycott the event.
The backlash was largely driven by renewed discussions around xenophobic violence and anti-immigration sentiment directed at Nigerian nationals living in South Africa.
Many online users argued that hosting a major South African artist in Lagos at a time of heightened tensions would send the wrong message.
The debate quickly gained traction across X and other social media platforms, with hashtags calling for Nigerians to reject the concert and demanding greater accountability from South African public figures.
The campaign gathered further momentum after several prominent Nigerian personalities publicly criticized the planned concert.
Activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, urged Nigerians to boycott the event, arguing that the country should take a firm stance against what he described as ongoing hostility toward Nigerians in South Africa.
Content creator and author Solomon Buchi also weighed in, encouraging concert promoters and fans to reconsider supporting the show.
Supporters of the boycott described the campaign as a symbolic response to broader diplomatic and social tensions between the two African nations.
Beyond concerns over xenophobia, critics also pointed to longstanding frustrations surrounding travel restrictions between Nigeria and South Africa.
Many social media users referenced previous visa disputes involving entertainers, arguing that Nigerian artists have often faced difficulties entering South Africa for performances and promotional events.
Among the examples repeatedly cited was Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr, whose reported visa challenges became part of the online conversation surrounding Tyla’s planned Lagos concert.
Some critics argued that if Nigerian musicians continue experiencing barriers when travelling to South Africa, similar scrutiny should apply to South African artists seeking to perform in Nigeria.
Others called on authorities to adopt stricter reciprocal visa measures, saying fairness should guide cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Following the online uproar, fans noticed that the Lagos concert was no longer listed on Tyla’s official website.
The rest of the A*POP World Tour schedule, however, remains unchanged.
The international tour is still expected to take the singer across Europe, North America and other global destinations before concluding with homecoming performances in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Despite the growing attention surrounding the issue, Tyla has not publicly addressed the controversy.
Her management team has also remained silent regarding whether the Lagos performance was cancelled, postponed or simply removed while discussions continue behind the scenes.
While Tyla herself has not been directly linked to the concerns raised by Nigerian critics, the planned concert became a focal point for broader frustrations surrounding xenophobia, immigration and diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria.
The two countries have experienced periodic tensions over the years, particularly following attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa that have drawn condemnation across the continent.
