South African music star Tyla has reportedly removed Lagos from the list of cities on her upcoming A-Pop Tour, fueling speculation that her scheduled December 22, 2026, concert in Nigeria has been cancelled following widespread criticism from Nigerians.
The development comes weeks after renewed outrage over reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, which sparked calls for the singer to cancel her planned Lagos performance.
Many Nigerians argued that although Tyla was not directly involved in the xenophobic incidents, hosting her concert in Lagos at a time when Nigerians continued to face hostility in South Africa would send the wrong message. Critics maintained that Nigeria has consistently welcomed African entertainers and should expect similar treatment for its citizens abroad.
The backlash intensified on social media, with many users urging promoters to scrap the Lagos show. Some also pointed to the reported visa challenges faced by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr in South Africa, insisting that there should be equal treatment between both countries.
Among those who publicly opposed Tyla’s planned performance was Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The lawmaker called on the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to consider applying the same visa restrictions to Tyla that Ayra Starr was allegedly subjected to in South Africa.
Following the controversy, fans noticed that Lagos was no longer listed among the tour destinations on Tyla’s official A-Pop Tour schedule, leading to widespread reports that the Nigerian concert had been dropped.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Tyla nor her management has released an official statement explaining the removal of Lagos from the tour schedule or confirming whether the concert has been permanently cancelled. Likewise, the concert promoters have yet to issue a formal response.
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