South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla has come under renewed criticism over her planned concert in Lagos, with socio-political group TeamNigeria4Change describing the performance as “insensitive” amid lingering tensions over the recent xenophobic incidents in South Africa.
The singer is scheduled to perform in Lagos on December 22, 2026, as part of her A*POP World Tour. However, the announcement has triggered widespread reactions on social media, with some Nigerians calling for a boycott of the event.
In a statement issued on Friday, TeamNigeria4Change argued that Tyla’s decision to proceed with the Lagos concert, despite remaining silent during the recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, sends the wrong message.
The group’s President, Otunba Bestman Nze-Jumbo, said Tyla’s silence as a public figure during the crisis could be interpreted as tacit approval of the attacks.
According to him, inviting a South African artiste to perform in Nigeria at a time when many Nigerians are still upset over the treatment of their compatriots in South Africa demonstrates a lack of empathy on the part of the concert organisers.
Bestman noted that Nigerians were among the worst affected by the recent wave of xenophobic hostility and questioned the timing of the planned performance.
He further recalled Nigeria’s historic support for South Africa during the struggle against apartheid, describing it as unfortunate that Nigerians are now being subjected to hostility and discrimination in the country.
The group also referenced the recent diplomatic tensions between both nations, noting that the Nigerian government had reportedly deployed aircraft to evacuate citizens from South Africa after many allegedly faced threats of deportation and were given an ultimatum to leave the country.
The planned Lagos concert has continued to divide public opinion, with some Nigerians insisting the event should be cancelled in solidarity with victims of xenophobic attacks, while others argue that entertainers should not be held responsible for political or social crises between countries.
Despite the growing backlash, there has been no official statement from Tyla or her management addressing the criticism surrounding the scheduled Lagos performance.
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