Nigerian celebrities and social media users have launched a fierce campaign against South African singer Tyla’s planned December concert in Lagos, demanding it be cancelled and calling on the Nigeria Immigration Service to deny her a visa over her silence on xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
The backlash was swift, loud and celebrity-powered — and it has a name: “South Africa Thinks We’re Fools.”
Days after Tyla’s December Lagos concert was announced, Nigerians launched a coordinated social media campaign against the South African singer, citing her silence on the ongoing xenophobic attacks in her home country that have left several Nigerians dead and thousands displaced.
As reported by Daily Post, the campaign drew in prominent voices across entertainment and media. Popular OAP Do2dtun fired off on X, drawing a pointed contrast with Burna Boy’s past experience in South Africa: “Burna was issued a warning; threatened to be killed years ago if he ever stepped foot in SA over his stance against AKA’s xenophobic stance. What did you all do about it? Instead you crucified your own.”
BBNaija star Pere Egbi went further, directly tagging the Nigeria Immigration Service: “Nigerian @nigimmigration we are collectively imploring you to intentionally deny Tyla and her team visas as well. They can’t do this to our own and we welcome their own.”
Writer Solomon Buchi was equally direct: “Tyla is scheduled to perform in Nigeria this December, and that show must not happen. Not after the xenophobic attacks that we saw in South Africa and how immigrants and especially Nigerians are treated. Not one word from Tyla and not even performative activism from her. She never spoke about it and all of a sudden, she wants to have a show in Nigeria. That’s very insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians.”
Content creator Sea King backed the boycott, while digital creator Isa Bako made comments on Instagram advising Nigerians to physically assault concert attendees outside the venue — remarks that have drawn additional controversy alongside the broader campaign.
Tyla’s management and concert organisers had not publicly responded to the campaign as of the time of this report. The Nigeria Immigration Service also made no official statement.
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