South Africa Tyla’s Lagos Concert Sparks Fierce Debate As Nigerians Campaign for Boycott
- Nigerians on social media are pushing to boycott South African singer Tyla's planned Lagos concert scheduled for December 22
- The backlash is tied to renewed outrage over alleged xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, including the death of Chika Ibe in Cape Town
- Not all Nigerians support the boycott, with some arguing that political issues should not stop a musician from performing
- PR expert pointed out how Nigeria and South Africa can protect their strong entertainment and cultural ties despite recurring diplomatic and social tensions
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South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla is facing fierce pushback from Nigerians online after announcing a Lagos stop on her APOP World Tour, with many demanding a boycott over alleged xenophobic treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
The tour, which includes performances across Europe and North America, is scheduled to touch down in Lagos on December 22, before wrapping up with dates in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9.
Source: Instagram
The announcement landed badly with a section of Nigerian social media users, who quickly connected the event to ongoing concerns about the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa.
Calls to Boycott Tyla's Lagos Show
The backlash played out largely on X, where users rallied behind the idea of rejecting the concert as a form of protest, Punch reports.
One user, @Miz_Fey, was blunt: "Any Nigerian who attends Tyla's concert in Lagos is just as useless as the government btw."
@FtoniaUc went further, insisting no South African artist should be welcomed in Nigeria under the current circumstances.
"I don't care what y'all say, with what went down and what is going down in South Africa against Nigerians, no South African artists should be hosting a concert or show in Nigeria. It's the audacity for me!!" the user wrote, adding that both ticket buyers and event organisers "should be ashamed."
@BighomieRay also called on Nigerians to reject the concert, pointing to the death of a Nigerian national in South Africa.
"If this concert hold successfully in Nigeria, then Nigerians are bunch of idiots. Go and see what SA police are doing to Nigerians. They recently killed a Nigerian. None of them have spoken against it," the user posted.
@MetOrjiChukwudi framed his stance as a call for symbolic solidarity.
"I call on Nigerians to peacefully boycott Tyla's performance as a symbolic stand for justice, accountability, and the protection of all Africans," he wrote.
Several users also criticised Tyla personally for staying silent on the xenophobia issue. @Momobtw__ wrote:
"I've never seen Tyla speak up against xenophobia. But sure, let's do a tour stop in Lagos."
Divided Opinions on the Boycott
Not everyone agreed. @Emmanuel1135482 argued that Nigerians' affection for Tyla is personal, not political.
"Nigerians get love still get hate at the same time. Na the love for Tyla no be for South Africans," the user wrote.
@cea9275 dismissed the campaign entirely, arguing, "You're fighting an illogical battle, political issues should never stop a musician from performing in the said country."
@DoyeenOfLagos shifted the conversation away from the government, questioning why individuals were not holding themselves and event organisers accountable instead.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of the reported death of Nigerian national Chika Ibe in Cape Town, an incident that reignited anger among Nigerians about how their compatriots are treated in South Africa.
Source: Instagram
PR expert weighs in on Nigeria and South Africa social tensions
PR expert AK STREETZ pointed out how Nigeria and South Africa can protect their strong entertainment and cultural ties despite recurring diplomatic and social tensions.
In his words:
"The situation between Nigeria and South Africa is quite unfortunate, especially as it reflects tensions that have existed for years, dating back to the Channel O era. It also demonstrates that politics and diplomacy have a significant influence on the entertainment industry across Africa. The Way Forward: The South African government needs to take deliberate steps to reorient its citizens on the importance of cross-cultural relationships and African unity.
"The silo mentality surrounding culture must be addressed, particularly among young people and Generation Z, through education and sustained civic engagement. Beyond issuing press statements, both countries need practical, measurable initiatives that genuinely strengthen bilateral relations and foster people-to-people connections. There should also be greater emphasis on teaching history, so younger South Africans understand the role Nigeria and other African nations played in supporting the anti-apartheid struggle. Such historical awareness can help build mutual respect and appreciation.
"If these underlying issues remain unresolved, hostility could deepen, leading to increasing cultural boycotts and reduced collaboration across the continent. It is worth noting that Nigeria's entertainment industry has not boycotted South African culture or entertainment. Amapiano, for example, has been widely embraced by Nigerian audiences and artists. This reflects the openness of Nigeria's entertainment ecosystem, where cultural exchange is encouraged rather than viewed as a threat.
"In Nigeria, Amapiano is not seen as competing with Afrobeats, Fuji, Juju, or Highlife. Instead, these genres coexist, enriching the continent's musical landscape. However, collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa in areas such as Nollywood and other creative sectors still remains relatively limited. Both countries have an opportunity to deepen these partnerships, using entertainment as a bridge for unity rather than allowing political tensions to create further divisions."
Cardi B defends Tyla
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that US rapper Cardi B defended Tyla following the recent social media bullying.
Viewers felt Tyla was rude towards Halle Bailey for asking her to hold her award. Instead, Cardi observed that she was asking Lil Nas X to hold her award because he was the
Source: Legit.ng
