Tyla, the acclaimed South African musician, has decided to cancel her Nigeria tour stop amid escalating criticism over anti-migrant violence in South Africa. Originally set to perform in Lagos on December 22 as part of Nigeria’s “Detty December” celebrations, Tyla’s show has been removed from the tour schedule.
While Tyla and her management have not provided an official reason for this change, the decision follows increased online pressure to cancel the concert due to South Africa’s ongoing attacks on foreigners, including Nigerians.
This concert would have marked Tyla’s first major solo performance in Nigeria. She previously visited the country in late 2024 and met with notable Nigerian artists like Rema, Ayra Starr, and Tems, expressing a strong desire to perform there.
After announcing the tour, several Nigerian figures voiced concerns about the concert’s timing. Media personality Do2dtun advised reevaluating the situation, while commentator Solomon Buchi called for a boycott, criticizing Tyla for her silence on the migrant attacks in her homeland.
The discussion also brought up past issues faced by Nigerian artist Ayra Starr over visa challenges before performing in South Africa. This fueled questions about whether Tyla should still perform in Nigeria given the current climate.
Not everyone agreed with the boycott. Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate, argued that Tyla should not bear responsibility for South Africa’s immigration issues, emphasizing that artists shouldn’t be blamed for governmental policies. He encouraged Nigerians to focus their grievances on political figures rather than entertainers, advocating for continued cultural exchanges despite diplomatic strains.
This situation has underscored the negative impact of anti-migrant violence on South Africa’s entertainment sector. Earlier this year, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi revealed that many South African musicians had lost performance opportunities throughout Africa because of public outrage over these attacks.
Beyond entertainment, tensions also surfaced during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with several African countries showing support for teams playing against South Africa, highlighting broader continental dissatisfaction.
Despite these controversies, Tyla has maintained strong connections to Nigeria through collaborations with artists such as Ayra Starr, DJ Spinall, Omah Lay, Tems, and Wizkid. She has been an advocate for recognizing Africa’s diverse music genres beyond just Afrobeats, pushing for global appreciation of the continent’s musical diversity.
