"If You Go for Tyla’s Concert, You Are a Bastard" — OAP Do2dtun Calls for Boycott Amid Rising Xenophobic Tensions

The announcement of South African pop star Tyla’s upcoming tour was supposed to be a moment of excitement for music lovers in Lagos. Instead, it has ignited a fierce social media firestorm.

Following Tyla’s official unveiling of her tour schedule—which features a highly anticipated Lagos performance on December 22—popular Nigerian On-Air Personality and energy god, Kayode Ojuolape Oladotun (famously known as Do2dtun), sparked intense debate with a scathing public reaction.

Taking to social media, Do2dtun didn't mincing words, calling on Nigerians, Anyone who pays to see the Grammy-winning "Water" crooner perform in Lagos is, quite bluntly, a "bast@rd."

Do2dtun’s reaction didn't happen in a vacuum. It comes on the heels of renewed xenophobic hostilities, discrimination, and economic micro-aggressions faced by Nigerians residing in or visiting South Africa.

For years, relations between the two African giants have flickered between brotherhood and hostility. From violent attacks on foreign-owned businesses in Johannesburg to recurring visa bottlenecks and heated social media clashes (widely known as the "SA vs. Nigeria X Wars"), national sentiment among many Nigerians has reached a boiling point.

To Do2dtun and a growing furious Nigerians, continuing to roll out the red carpet for top South African artists, some feels like it's a slap in the face.

The core argument is simple: Economic and cultural reciprocity. Why should South African entertainers make millions off Nigerian soil while Nigerians face hostility, deportations, or safety threats in South Africa?

"Supporting South African artists commercially while our people are mistreated over there isn't love—it's a lack of self-respect." — This remains the driving sentiment behind the boycott movement.

This group stands firmly with Do2dtun. They believe that standard diplomatic channels have failed and that hitting back economically through cultural boycotts is the only way to send a strong message. Voting with their wallets, they argue, shows national solidarity with the diaspora community.

Counter-arguments suggest that targeting an individual artist like Tyla is misplaced anger.

Artists aren't politicians: Tyla isn't responsible for South Africa’s immigration policies or the actions of xenophobic citizens.

Culture is a bridge, not a weapon: Music—especially the synergy between Afrobeats and Amapiano—has been one of the few bridges holding relations between both countries together.

Local economic impact: Promoters, stage technicians, venue owners, security personnel, and vendors in Lagos hosting the concert are mostly Nigerian businesses standing to make a profit.

This isn't the first time music and politics have collided between both nations. Past diplomatic rows have previously seen Nigerian superstars pull out of South African festivals and vice versa.

Do2dtun’s outburst highlights a deep, unhealed wound in inter-African relations. Whether you view his language as unrefined or a necessary call to national pride, one thing is undeniable: the tension goes far beyond a December concert ticket.

As December 22 approaches, all eyes will be on Lagos. Will the concert proceed to a sold-out crowd, or will the call for a boycott leave empty seats at one of the biggest pop shows of the year? Only time will tell.