By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South African Grammy-winning singer, Tyla has removed Lagos, Nigeria’s entertainment hub from the schedule of her APOP World Tour, days after her planned December 22 concert triggered calls for a boycott over renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in her home country, South Africa.
The Lagos stop, which was previously listed on Tyla’s official tour website for December 22, had been removed from her itinerary as at Friday morning.
The updated schedule however retains all previously announced dates across Europe, North America and South Africa, but Nigeria was conspicuously missing.
Tyla had unveiled the APOP World Tour, with Lagos listed as the only Nigerian stop before the tour concluded with performances in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9.
The announcement sparked heated reactions on social media, with some Nigerians urging a boycott of the concert in response to the xenophobic attacks suffered by Nigerian nationals in South Africa.
Some social media users argued that no South African artiste should perform in Nigeria while reports of attacks on Nigerians continued,
Others however maintained that musicians should not be held responsible for political or social issues.
Sharing her opinion on the matter, an opposition Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan said the Principle of Reciprocity in Foreign Policy should apply, calling on Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Government of Nigeria to review the visa applications of Tyla and her entourage in accordance with the principle of reciprocity in foreign policy.
“If it is confirmed that our Nigerian artiste Ayra Starr and her team were denied entry visas to South Africa, leading to the cancellation of their engagements, then Nigeria should respond with equivalent measures until Nigerian citizens and artistes are accorded fair and respectful treatment.
“This is not a call against Tyla as an individual. Rather, it is a call for Nigeria to uphold the principle of mutual respect that underpins international relations. Reciprocity is a recognized instrument of diplomacy. When our citizens face discriminatory or unjust treatment abroad, Nigeria must demonstrate that such actions carry corresponding consequences”, she stated.
Earlier, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, opposed the boycott campaign, saying Nigerians should not blame Tyla for xenophobic attacks.
“Nigerians should direct their anger at their real enemies… No one should hold a talented musician like @Tyllaaaaaaa vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia,” Sowore wrote on X, adding that “Tyla’s Lagos concert must go on.”
The removal of Lagos from the tour schedule comes amid renewed concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa following reports of alleged xenophobic attacks and the death of Nigerian nationals, including one Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu had rejected a dialogue with South African envoy dispatched by Cyril Ramaphosa to douse the escalating diplomatic tensions sparked by the Afrophobic attacks.
