Tyla Breaks Silence on African Unity After Nigeria Backlash

(Tyla. Photo by Billboard)

South African music star Tyla has expressed a prayer for African continental unity whilst speaking at the South African Music Awards over the weekend.

The statement arrives weeks after she faced criticism for not publicly opposing xenophobic att@cks targeting Nigerians in South Africa.

Numerous Nigerians, encompassing entertainment personalities, had previously mounted a campaign opposing her planned Lagos concert following accusations that she had failed to utilise her platform to denounce violence against foreign nationals.

Subsequent to this backlash, Tyla cancelled her Lagos performance.

During her address at the awards ceremony, Tyla articulated satisfaction with her South African nationality whilst emphasising her pride in African identity, stating her aspiration to witness continental unity in future periods.

“I am happy to be African. I pray one day to see a unified Africa.”

- Tyla at the South African Music Awards 😍🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/yfqumjRSKQ

— OLAMIDE 🌸💖 (@Olamide0fficial) August 16, 2026