Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress presidential candidate for 2027, calls on Nigerians not to join a boycott of South African singer Tyla amid backlash following references to alleged xenophobic attacks in South Africa. In a social media post on Wednesday, Sowore argues that public anger should be directed at political leadership rather than at entertainers, saying artistes are not responsible for state policies or the actions of governments.
Both outlets report that Sowore links the controversy to broader political failures, blaming African political leaders for xenophobia and, specifically in one account, pointing to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and South African leadership. He maintains that calls for boycotting Tyla, including in relation to a Lagos concert, misplace responsibility and risks punishing an individual for issues driven by governments and policies.
The reports characterize Sowore’s position as an effort to separate entertainment from politics, urging Nigerians to focus criticism on those who can address or prevent xenophobic treatment.
