Nigeria date removed from South African pop star Tyla's world tour after boycott petition

The Nigerian leg of South African pop sensation Tyla's upcoming world tour has been canceled, just days after the initial announcement of her global itinerary. The Grammy-winning artist had revealed details of her tour on Monday, following the release of her second album, *A*POP*.

Initially, Tyla's official website listed 34 cities, including Lagos, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, as performance venues. However, by Friday, an updated schedule was published, notably omitting the Nigerian capital. While no official reason has been provided for the alteration, the change comes amidst increasing pressure in Nigeria for the 24-year-old singer to call off her concert due to a recent surge in anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa.

Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have been strained by allegations that Nigerians have been targets of xenophobic violence. Nigeria, along with other African nations, has accused South Africa of insufficient action in addressing attacks on foreign nationals. This has led to a series of protests in South Africa, with calls for all undocumented migrants to leave the country. Tens of thousands of foreigners, including Nigerians, have since departed, many on specially chartered repatriation flights.

Despite diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, including a recent meeting between foreign affairs officials in Abuja, the issue has transcended political spheres. On Wednesday, an online petition titled "Ban Tyla from entering Nigeria until xenophobic attacks stop in South Africa" was launched in Nigeria, quickly garnering thousands of signatures. On Tyla's social media platforms, where the original tour dates are still visible, Nigerians have warned her against performing in the country, criticizing her perceived silence on the protests in South Africa. Tyla has not yet responded to a BBC request for comment.

Tyla is not the only South African artist facing criticism for their apparent lack of public comment on the anti-migrant protests. Comedian Trevor Noah also drew fire for an advertisement he fronted for the Tourism Business Council of South Africa. The promotional video, shared across the council's social media accounts, generated numerous comments criticizing the former *Daily Show* host for promoting South Africa while failing to address xenophobic attitudes. Some users even added context to the video, stating that South Africa was "a xenophobic country [that] doesn't allow visiting migrants."

The backlash has extended beyond online criticism, with some South African artists reportedly losing performance opportunities across the continent. South Africa's Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi stated in June that a local artist had informed her that "all her gigs were cancelled," though the minister did not name the artist. "So the [South Africa] brand does get affected," she remarked at the time.

The South African government has pushed back against the growing wave of criticism, asserting that it addresses anyone who takes the law into their own hands, noting that over 900 people were arrested after recent protests. However, it also maintains its right to control migration into the country.

The online debate surrounding Tyla's world tour has sparked a broader conversation about whether African artists should be held accountable for political tensions between their countries. Nigerian activist, opposition politician, and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore argued on X that anger over anti-migrant attacks should be directed at political leaders in Nigeria and South Africa, rather than artists. He posted, "No-one should hold a talented musician like Tyla vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia. Artistes are not responsible for the failures of politicians except where there is ample evidence they're enablers."

Nigerian culture journalist Mayowa Idowu told the BBC that while the anger may stem from a desire for accountability, directing it towards an artist risks overlooking the larger issue. "I think they are well intentioned because people are seeking accountability and they're looking beyond governments who they do not trust or have faith in. That said, I think they are misguided and they risk devolving into acts of hypocrisy. The artist in question has worked with Nigerian artists and performed in Nigeria previously," he said. Idowu contends that performers should not be pressured into taking political stances simply because of their nationality.

Tyla has previously found herself at the center of rivalry between the two nations. Earlier this year, she triumphed over four other African artists, including three from Nigeria, to secure her second Grammy Award in the Best African Music Performance category. She won the inaugural version of the prize in 2024, again beating a field that included Nigerian heavyweights such as Burna Boy and Davido. With two wins in the category's first three years, Tyla has become one of the biggest Grammy success stories in African music, while also becoming a symbol in a fan rivalry that often pits Nigerian and South African artists against each other.

UK-based Nigerian culture journalist and writer Dami Ajayi stated that Tyla has never presented herself as anti-Nigeria, but "we interpret her winning two Grammy Awards in a nominations list full of Nigerian musicians as being anti-Nigerian." He added, "These targeted retaliatory campaigns are not particularly new. There were also calls to boycott the recent hit Netflix show *The Polygamist*, adapted from Zimbabwean Sue Nyathi's novel and co-directed by Akin Omotosho, a Nigerian living in South Africa."

South African journalist Thango Ntwasa commented that while it was difficult to comment on the removal of Lagos from Tyla's world tour line-up, "it's a very interesting time because we're seeing arts and politics... really confronting each other now more than ever." He also addressed the criticism leveled at artists like Tyla and Noah for their apparent silence on the migration issue, stating that while it's understandable for artists to want to be apolitical, it was important for "celebrities... to understand that as a public figure, your opinion or position on a political issue does matter." Ntwasa noted that South African artists had reported facing animosity when visiting other African nations and that, because touring is a significant part of their income, these negative attitudes could affect them in the long run.