Calls Grow to Boycott Tyla’s Lagos Concert Over Fresh Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

• Calls are mounting for Nigerians to boycott Tyla’s Lagos concert after fresh xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

• While critics accuse the singer of remaining silent, others insist entertainers should not be blamed for the actions of criminals or governments.

Calls for a boycott of Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla’s upcoming Lagos concert have intensified following renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.

The singer recently announced that her A*POP World Tour will make a stop in Lagos on December 22, 2026, but the announcement has triggered mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians urging fans to stay away from the event in protest.

The campaign gathered momentum after Nigerian author and media personality Solomon Buchi criticised Tyla for remaining silent over the attacks and urged Nigerians to withhold support until the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa improves.

Several users on X and other social media platforms echoed similar views, arguing that supporting a South African artiste while Nigerians continue to face violence abroad sends the wrong message. Some also called on concert organisers to reconsider hosting the event.

The renewed outrage follows reports of fresh attacks targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, prompting concern from the Nigerian government.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had engaged South African authorities, urging them to protect Nigerians residing in the country and ensure those responsible for the attacks are brought to justice.

South African authorities have condemned the violence, insisting the attacks are not state-sponsored and pledging to strengthen efforts to protect all residents regardless of nationality.

However, not everyone supports the boycott campaign. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore argued that musicians should not be blamed for the actions of criminals or government failures, insisting that political leaders—not entertainers—should be held accountable for preventing xenophobic violence.

As of the time of filing this report, Tyla has not publicly commented on either the boycott campaign or the latest xenophobic attacks.

The controversy has revived memories of the 2008, 2015 and 2019 xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which strained diplomatic relations between Africa’s two largest economies.

During the 2019 attacks, several Nigerian artistes, including Tiwa Savage, cancelled performances in South Africa in solidarity with victims, while protests also erupted in Nigeria against South African-owned businesses.

Despite growing calls for a boycott, there has been no indication that Tyla’s Lagos concert has been cancelled, and organisers have yet to issue an official response.