Boycott calls cloud Tyla’s Detty December Lagos show amid booming African live music market

Boycott calls cloud Tyla’s Detty December Lagos show amid booming African live music market

Nigeria’s Detty December season has become one of Africa’s most lucrative live entertainment windows, attracting global stars, thousands of international visitors, and millions of naira in concert spending. This year, however, the planned Lagos stop of South African Grammy winner Tyla’s APOP World Tour has become caught in a growing political controversy that is testing the balance between business, culture and diplomacy.

Shortly after Tyla announced Lagos as one of the African stops on her world tour, alongside Cape Town and Johannesburg, calls for a boycott emerged across social media. The backlash is tied to renewed anger over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa, with many critics arguing that hosting a major South African artist in Nigeria at this moment sends the wrong message.

Content creator Solomon Buchi urged Nigerians to reject the concert, arguing that Tyla has remained silent despite repeated attacks on Nigerians. Social media activist VeryDarkMan also opposed the event, warning promoters against proceeding with the show. On the other side of the debate, activist Omoyele Sowore argued that artists should not be held responsible for government failures, insisting that political grievances should be directed at elected leaders rather than musicians.

The disagreement reflects a wider question confronting Africa’s growing live music industry, whether political tensions can begin to influence cross border touring that has become increasingly common over the last five years.

Nigeria’s December concert economy has grown into one of the continent’s largest entertainment markets. Headline concerts during the festive season typically attract between 8,000 and 20,000 fans depending on venue size and artist demand. Premium tickets for international acts often range from about N50,000 to above N500,000, with VIP hospitality packages selling for considerably more.

If Tyla’s Lagos concert were staged at a venue with a capacity of around 10,000 people and achieved strong sales, gross ticket revenue could conservatively range between N700 million and more than N2 billion depending on ticket pricing and premium offerings. Those figures exclude sponsorship income, merchandise sales and hospitality packages that usually accompany major concerts during the festive season.

The financial exposure also extends beyond ticket sales. International concerts involve artist guarantees, venue deposits, production costs, logistics, accommodation, visas, security, insurance and marketing expenses, many of which are committed months before an event is announced. While event cancellation insurance can cover some risks, political controversies and reputational disputes are not always covered under standard policies, leaving promoters exposed depending on the wording of their contracts.

Adeola Akinyemi, a live events executive who spoke with BusinessDay, said the controversy illustrates how business decisions can quickly become influenced by social and political realities.

“As a creative business, timing matters. You may have a great idea, but the environment also determines whether that idea succeeds. It is almost like organising a party during a war. Even if discussions with promoters started months earlier, once circumstances change, you have to recognise that there will be resistance.”

While she understands why many Nigerians are calling for a boycott, Adeola believes the criticism should not become personal attacks against the singer.

“I understand the boycott because many Nigerians want to send a message about what is happening in South Africa. But I do not think the response should be to attack Tyla as an individual or as an artist. It should be viewed as a peaceful protest, a way of saying we appreciate your music, but we cannot support this event until our concerns are acknowledged,” Akinyemi said.

Akinyemi argued that the silence surrounding xenophobic attacks has contributed to public frustration.

“If they still intend to come to Nigeria, there has to be genuine communication that shows empathy. It cannot simply be a public relations exercise. People want reassurance that she does not support what is happening. Even if politics is not her space, influential people are often expected to acknowledge serious humanitarian issues.”

Akinyemi said postponing the concert could ultimately become the least costly option if tensions continue.

“If I were managing the situation, I would consider postponing the show until emotions have settled. If they decide to continue, then they must be prepared to engage sincerely with the concerns being raised. Even then, there is no guarantee it will change public opinion.”

She added that promoters often shoulder the greatest financial burden when controversies arise.

“In most cases, the promoter carries almost all the financial risk. Artist fees are usually agreed and money has often changed hands before an announcement is made. If a show is cancelled, it is typically the promoter that suffers the biggest losses. That is why cross border concert agreements in Nigeria need stronger contractual protections that distribute risk more fairly.”

Music executive and cultural commentator Tolu Ogunleye popularly known as Dr Tonez said the debate extends beyond one artist and reflects broader concerns about solidarity across Africa’s creative industries.

“If people feel your country is treating their citizens unfairly, and you have influence but choose not to say something as simple as, ‘let us follow the law and treat people with dignity,’ then many will interpret that silence as indifference. Whether people decide to boycott is their choice, and they cannot simply be told not to,”Ogunleye said.

According to him, artists increasingly occupy influential public positions that carry responsibilities beyond entertainment.

“When EndSARS happened, artists were expected to speak. If the situation were reversed and Nigerians were attacking South Africans, many people would expect Nigerian artists to speak as well. Influence comes with responsibility. Nobody is asking artists to become politicians, but they can encourage lawful behaviour and respect for human dignity.”

Ogunleye warned that while South African music continues to enjoy strong support in Nigeria, unresolved tensions could eventually affect audience behaviour.

“Nigerians generally separate music from politics. People will still dance to Amapiano in clubs. But live performances are different because the artist is physically present. If these issues continue without meaningful responses, they could begin to influence how audiences receive South African acts and eventually affect broader cultural exchanges.”

The controversy has led Tyla to cancel the Lagos tour but no official statement from the artist or her management has been issued.