South African singer, Tyla’s planned Lagos concert has been removed from the public schedule of her APOP World Tour, days after a wave of criticism and boycott campaigns from some Nigerians.

Neither the artiste nor her management has explained why the Nigerian stop no longer appears on the tour itinerary.

A review of the official tour schedule on Friday showed that Lagos had been taken off the list of destinations for the 34-city tour. However, there has been no official statement indicating whether the concert has been cancelled, postponed or is expected to be announced again at a later date.

The singer had earlier announced a performance in Lagos for 22 December as part of the tour promoting her second album, APOP, released on 24 July. The tour is scheduled to begin in Paris on 12 October before moving across Europe, the United Kingdom and North America.

Lagos was initially listed as the only Nigerian stop and the first African destination on the tour, ahead of scheduled performances in Cape Town on 4 January and Johannesburg on 9 January 2027. While the South African dates remain on the official itinerary, the Lagos concert is no longer listed.

The development comes after several days of online campaigns urging Nigerians to boycott the concert over concerns about xenophobic attacks and the treatment of Nigerians living in South Africa.

The calls intensified following the death of Nigerian citizen Chika Ibeh during a South African Police Service operation in Cape Town on 23 July. South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate is investigating the incident after preliminary post-mortem findings reportedly revealed multiple injuries.

The Nigerian government has also demanded a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Public figures, including content creator Solomon Buchi, activist VeryDarkMan and broadcaster Dotun, were among those who supported the boycott campaign, with some critics arguing that hosting the concert would send the wrong message while concerns over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa remain unresolved. Others also questioned Tyla’s silence on the issue.

However, the campaign generated divided opinions. Some Nigerians maintained that the singer should not be blamed for the actions of the South African government or security agencies.

Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore also opposed the boycott, arguing that political leaders, rather than entertainers, should be held accountable for diplomatic and xenophobia-related issues.

The debate has also drawn attention to the longstanding collaboration between Nigerian and South African entertainers. Tyla has previously worked with Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, while artistes such as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tems, Omah Lay and DJ Spinall have maintained creative partnerships with South African musicians and producers.

The popularity of amapiano music in Nigeria has further strengthened cultural ties between both countries.

The issue also coincides with recent diplomatic tensions following reports that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied South African visas. In response, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called on the Federal Government to consider reciprocal measures in processing visa applications involving South African entertainers, although she stated that her position was not directed at Tyla personally.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Tyla, her management nor the organisers of the Lagos concert had commented on the removal of the Nigerian date from the tour schedule, leaving the status of the planned performance uncertain.