Xenophobic attacks: VDM threatens to disrupt Tyla’s Lagos concert

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has warned organisers of South African singer Tyla’s scheduled concert in Lagos to cancel the event, citing ongoing xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

 

In a video posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday, VDM insisted that the concert should not go ahead, arguing that the South African artiste should not profit from Nigerian fans while Nigerians continue to face hostility in South Africa.

 

“There will be no Tyla concert in Nigeria. It is not happening. This is a warning to the organisers and the show promoters bringing Tyla to Nigeria. That show is not happening,” he said.

 

Referring to the legal battle involving Chidimma Adetshina in South Africa, VDM added, “Not when Chidimma Adetshina is battling deportation in a South African court. Now you want to bring in Tyla and sell tickets so that Tyla will make money off Nigerians—the same Nigerians that South Africans hate so much.”

 

He further threatened to disrupt the event if organisers proceeded with the concert.

 

“This is a warning to you. If you go ahead with that show, we will come to the venue and we will bring the show down,” he said.

 

VDM’s remarks come amid growing calls by some Nigerians, including celebrities and social media users, for a boycott of Tyla’s December concert in Lagos over persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.

 

The controversy followed the release of Tyla’s world tour schedule by her management, which includes a performance in Lagos on December 22, 2026.

 

Tyla has not publicly responded to the boycott campaign or VDM’s comments.