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Tyla has called for African unity, saying she is proud to be South African but equally proud to identify as an African, weeks after controversy surrounding her planned concert in Lagos brought renewed attention to tensions between Nigerians and South Africans.
The South African singer made the comments while speaking at the 32nd South African Music Awards (SAMA32) at Sun City in the North West Province on August 15, 2026.
“I am so happy to be South African. I am happy to be African above all.”
Tyla then expressed her hope for greater integration across the continent.
“I pray to one day see a unified Africa. It’s so important.”
Tyla calls for African unity
Tyla’s African unity message comes at a sensitive time, following controversy over her planned Lagos concert and discussions surrounding xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
Her comments appeared to emphasise the cultural connections between Africans across national borders rather than focusing on tensions between individual countries.
However, Tyla did not directly address the Lagos controversy, the boycott campaign or criticism over her alleged silence on xenophobia during her SAMA32 appearance.
What happened to Tyla’s Lagos concert?
Tyla’s A POP World Tour initially included a performance in Lagos scheduled for December 22, 2026.
The planned concert later became the subject of criticism from some Nigerian social media users, who called for a boycott and questioned why the singer had not publicly addressed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Nigerian personalities, including content creator Solomon Buchi and activist VeryDarkMan, were among those who criticised the planned performance.
Others defended Tyla, arguing that the singer should not personally be held responsible for actions committed by individuals or governments.
The Lagos date was subsequently removed from Tyla’s official tour itinerary.
Neither the singer nor her management publicly provided a reason for the change, while her scheduled South African performances remained listed.
Tyla avoids direct reference to Lagos controversy
Against that backdrop, Tyla’s latest remarks have attracted attention because of their emphasis on continental unity.
The singer did not mention Nigeria, the Lagos concert or the xenophobia debate during her SAMA32 remarks.
Instead, she focused on the importance of Africans seeing themselves as part of a broader continental community.
Her comments come as relations between Nigerian and South African communities remain a sensitive subject, particularly within the entertainment industry, where artists regularly travel between the two countries for concerts and collaborations.
Tyla’s growing global influence
Tyla has emerged as one of South Africa’s biggest international music stars following the global success of “Water.”
The song helped propel her career onto the international stage and earned her the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance.
Her growing global profile has also positioned her as an important figure in the international promotion of African music and culture.
Her latest appeal for a unified Africa therefore comes at a significant moment, as African musicians increasingly use their global platforms to connect audiences across national and cultural boundaries.
