LAGOS, Nigeria – South African singer Tyla has removed Lagos from the list of destinations for her upcoming world tour, days after initially announcing the Nigerian city as one of the stops.
Okay News reports that the Grammy-winning artist unveiled a 34-city tour on Monday following the release of her second album, A*POP. While the original schedule included Lagos, Johannesburg and Cape Town, an updated version published on her official website no longer lists the Nigerian city. No explanation has been provided for the change.
The development comes amid rising tensions between Nigeria and South Africa over recent anti-migrant protests and allegations of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals. Nigerian groups have criticised Tyla for not publicly addressing the situation, with an online petition calling for her to be barred from entering Nigeria until the attacks end attracting thousands of signatures.
Social media users have also urged the singer to cancel any planned appearance in Nigeria, arguing that she should speak out against the treatment of migrants in her home country. Tyla has not publicly commented on either the removal of Lagos from the tour schedule or the criticism directed at her.
The backlash has also affected other South African public figures, including comedian Trevor Noah, who faced criticism after appearing in a tourism campaign promoting South Africa. Some South African performers have reportedly lost bookings across the continent as anti-migrant sentiment continues to influence cultural exchanges.
Despite the growing public anger, some commentators have argued that artists should not be held responsible for political disputes between countries. Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore said criticism should be directed at political leaders rather than entertainers, while cultural analysts noted that holding musicians accountable for government policies risks overshadowing the broader issues driving the diplomatic tensions.
