Tyla, the South African artist and Grammy winner, says she hopes for a united Africa amid the anti-immigration violence rocking her country against other African countries.
The 24-year-old spoke after winning the AfriPure International Achievement prize at the 2026 South Africa Music Awards.
South Africa has experienced renewed anti-immigration sentiment and protests in recent months, which have forced African nationals to leave the country, with some incidents resulting in violence. 
African immigrants, Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans and others in the country have faced violence during the xenophobic attack and amid anti-immigration narratives.
Tyla speaks on African unity
Several Nigerians and other Africans left South Africa in various batches as the situation worsens, forcing even some people with legal documents to leave the country.
READ ALSO: Tyla Drops Lagos From World Tour Amid Backlash Over Xenophobic Attacks
“I’m just so happy to be South African, to be African most of all and I pray one day to see a united Africa, it’s so important,” she said.
Against the wave of public opinion in her country, Tyla said she is proud to be African. She added that it is very important for the continent to unite instead of resorting to violence because of the xenophobic attacks that have happened to African countries in South Africa.
Nigerians call for boycott of Lagos concert
Tyla’s words come just weeks after some Nigerians called for a boycott of her Lagos show over growing concerns about xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
Tyla originally scheduled her Lagos concert for December 22 as part of her ‘A*Pop’ World Tour. Following the boycott calls, the artist removed the Lagos date from the tour programme.
Nigerians claimed that organisers should not invite the musician to Lagos until they address the reported attacks, which have reignited tensions between the two countries.
About The Author
