Calls for Nigerians to boycott South African singer Tyla’s planned concert in Lagos are gaining momentum on social media following renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
The Grammy-winning artiste recently announced that her A*POP World Tour will make a stop in Lagos on 22 December 2026, but the announcement has triggered mixed reactions online. While some fans welcomed the news, others have urged Nigerians not to attend the concert as a form of protest against the continuing attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
The campaign intensified after Nigerian author and media personality Solomon Buchi criticised Tyla for not publicly speaking about the attacks and called on Nigerians to withhold support for the singer until the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa improves.
Buchi argued that public figures with large international followings should use their platforms to condemn violence against African migrants and advocate for their protection.
His comments quickly circulated across social media platforms, with many users expressing similar views. Several Nigerians on X, Instagram and Facebook said it would be inappropriate to celebrate a South African entertainer while Nigerians and other African nationals continue to face hostility, violence and intimidation in parts of South Africa.
Some users went further by calling on concert organisers and sponsors to reconsider the Lagos event, arguing that cultural and entertainment exchanges should not be separated from concerns about the treatment of fellow Africans.
The renewed backlash follows recent reports of attacks targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals in several South African communities, incidents that have again drawn attention to longstanding tensions surrounding immigration and xenophobia in the country.
The situation has prompted diplomatic concern from the Nigerian government. Earlier this week, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had engaged South African authorities over the reported attacks and requested urgent measures to protect Nigerians residing in the country.
The ministry also urged the South African government to ensure that those responsible for the attacks are identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law.
South African authorities have publicly condemned the violence and stated that criminal acts directed at foreign nationals would not be tolerated. Officials have maintained that the attacks are not sponsored by the state and have pledged to strengthen security efforts aimed at protecting all residents, irrespective of nationality.
Despite these assurances, many Nigerians remain concerned about recurring episodes of xenophobic violence in South Africa, where previous attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, displacement and the destruction of businesses owned by foreign nationals.
The controversy surrounding Tyla’s concert has therefore become part of a broader public debate about how Nigerians should respond to repeated incidents involving their compatriots abroad.
However, not everyone supports the boycott campaign. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised the calls to boycott the singer, arguing that musicians should not be held responsible for the actions of criminals or for the failure of governments to prevent xenophobic violence.
According to Sowore, the campaign misdirects public anger and risks unfairly targeting an entertainer who has not been accused of participating in or supporting the attacks.
He contended that the focus should instead be on demanding accountability from political leaders and security agencies responsible for protecting residents and preventing violence.
Sowore argued that cultural figures should not automatically become targets whenever diplomatic or security tensions arise between countries, adding that sustained political engagement and legal action are more effective responses to xenophobic violence than boycotting concerts.
The debate has continued to divide social media users, with some insisting that economic and cultural pressure can be a legitimate form of protest, while others believe such actions unfairly punish artists and could damage cultural relations between Nigeria and South Africa.
Tyla, whose global popularity has grown rapidly since the success of her hit songs and recent international awards, had not publicly responded to the boycott calls as of the time of filing this report.
Likewise, organisers of the Lagos concert have not announced any changes to the event schedule.
With the concert still several months away, it remains unclear whether the online campaign will significantly affect ticket sales or attendance. Nevertheless, the controversy has once again highlighted the sensitivity of xenophobia-related issues in Nigeria-South Africa relations and the strong emotional reactions they continue to generate among Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.
