Nigerian creator Solomon Buchi urges boycott of Tyla’s Lagos show over silence on xenophobia

Call to action delivered on Instagram

Buchi shared his appeal in a video on his Instagram page, saying: “That show must not happen. This is the one time we have to come together and stand for something,” and adding he had “no beef with her” but that it was about people using their voice.

Silence on xenophobia cited as reason for boycott

In the video Buchi criticised Tyla for not publicly addressing years of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. He said: “Not after the xenophobia attacks that we saw in South Africa and how immigrants, especially Nigerian immigrants, were treated. Not one word from Tyla,” and described the planned performance as disrespectful to Nigerians who still associate pain with those events.

Suggestion for fans who still want to see Tyla

Buchi told viewers that Nigerians who wanted to see Tyla should travel to South Africa instead, saying: “If Nigerians are really fans of Tyla, they should apply for a South African visa and go see her there. That show must not happen in Nigeria.”

Context: South Africa’s history of xenophobic violence

The remarks reference South Africa’s history of xenophobic violence, which the source lists as having major outbreaks in 2008, 2015 and 2019. The source also notes that more recently there have been renewed anti-migrant protests and attacks in parts of the country, with reports of vigilante groups targeting foreign nationals and prompting diplomatic concerns from Nigeria.

Public reaction

The source reports that much of the conversation in the comments to Buchi’s video reflected support for his stance. One user wrote: “I support this; she shouldn’t be allowed to perform here,” while another commented: “This is the one time we must come together to stand against evil … the show must not happen on our soil!”

Tour detail

The Lagos performance is scheduled as part of Tyla’s tour supporting her second album, ‘A*POP’.