South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla Laura Seethal is facing calls for a boycott of her upcoming Lagos concert after a Nigerian podcaster urged fans to stay away from the event, citing the singer’s silence on recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Also see: Tyla adds South Africa to ‘A*POP’ World Tour
The backlash comes just days after Tyla announced the dates for her highly anticipated A*POP World Tour, which includes a stop in Lagos on 22 December 2026, before concluding with shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg in January 2027.
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Also see: Tyla drops ‘A*POP,’ her most ambitious project yet
Nigerians divided over calls to boycott Tyla in Lagos
The boycott campaign has divided opinion online.
Supporters of the boycott argue that refusing to attend the concert would be a symbolic show of solidarity with Nigerians affected by xenophobic violence. Others believe public figures with large platforms have a responsibility to speak out against violence and discrimination.
However, many fans have defended Tyla, saying it is unfair to expect musicians to comment on every political issue. Others argued that music should bring people together rather than deepen divisions and that cancelling concerts would not resolve the broader diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Tensions remain high
The renewed criticism comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Nigeria and South Africa following reports of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals, including Nigerians. The issue has prompted diplomatic engagement, with Nigerian lawmakers and government officials calling for investigations and stronger protections for their citizens living in South Africa.
Despite the growing backlash, there has been no indication that Tyla’s Lagos concert has been cancelled, and the singer has not publicly responded to the boycott calls at the time of publication.
Also see: MaWhoo and Babalwa M feature on Tyla’s upcoming ‘A*POP’ album
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