South African pop star Tyla has removed Nigeria from her upcoming world tour, just days after the initial announcement of dates. The Grammy winner's official website initially listed Lagos among 34 cities for her tour, following the release of her second album, A*POP. However, an updated list published by Friday no longer included the Nigerian city.
While no official reason has been provided for the alteration, the change comes amidst increasing calls in Nigeria for the 24-year-old artist to cancel her concert. These calls are linked to recent anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa, which has strained relations between the two nations.
An online petition, launched on Wednesday, urged a ban on Tyla entering Nigeria until xenophobic attacks in South Africa cease, attracting thousands of signatures. Nigerians have also cautioned Tyla on her social media pages against performing in the country, criticising her perceived silence on the protests.
Tyla is not the only South African artist facing such a backlash. Comedian Trevor Noah also received criticism for promoting South Africa in an advert without addressing xenophobic attitudes. Some South African artists have reportedly lost performance opportunities across the continent due to these tensions.