FLASHBACK: From Burna Boy to Tyla, three times Nigeria-South Africa tensions spilt into music
From Burna Boy’s withdrawal from a South African anti-xenophobia concert in 2019, to Ayra Starr’s visa setback in 2024, Tyla’s warm Nigerian reception that same year and the backlash surrounding her planned 2026 Lagos show, the pattern is difficult to ignore: when Nigeria-South Africa relations become strained, the music industry often feels the impact.
What began as a planned homecoming for South African singer Tyla has become the latest flashpoint in the long-running tensions between Nigeria and South Africa, with her scheduled Lagos concert removed from the itinerary of her APOP World Tour amid calls for a boycott.
READ ALSO: ‘I waited 20 days for Burna Boy to send his ‘Dai Dai’ verse — Shakira The debate has also revived memories of Ayra Starr’s visa denial and the 2019 controversy surrounding Burna Boy, creating an unusual cycle in which Nigerian and South African artistes have repeatedly found themselves caught in disputes that extend far beyond music.
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