South African music star Tyla has quietly removed Lagos from her upcoming world tour schedule after facing strong backlash from many Nigerians over xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The Tyla Lagos concert had been scheduled for December 22. However, the event no longer appears on the official ticketing platform.
The controversy began shortly after the Grammy-winning singer announced her APop World Tour, which included performances across Europe, North America, South Africa and Nigeria.
Soon after the announcement, many Nigerians criticised the planned Lagos concert.
Some argued that Tyla had remained silent during reported xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in South Africa.
Others believed entertainers should not be blamed for political or social issues beyond their control.
Several public figures also joined the discussion.
Media personality Do2dtun questioned the decision to organise the Lagos concert.
In addition, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore urged Nigerians to direct their frustrations toward political leaders instead of the singer.
Despite the growing debate, Tyla did not publicly address the criticism.
However, the Lagos performance later disappeared from the official list of tour dates.
The updated schedule now includes concerts across Europe, North America and two performances in South Africa.
The South African shows are expected to hold in Cape Town on January 4 and Johannesburg on January 9.
Meanwhile, there has been no confirmation on whether the Lagos concert will return to the schedule at a later date.
Others insisted the cancellation should not be celebrated because music should unite people rather than deepen divisions.
The issue has once again brought attention to the long-standing tension between Nigeria and South Africa over repeated attacks on foreign nationals.
