Loyiso Pleads With Nigerian Promoters to Book Him Amid SA-Nigeria Tensions
- South African singer Loyiso posted an emotional video revealing that Nigeria is his third-biggest streaming country, yet he has never performed there
- Loyiso named Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt as cities where his music is thriving, and pledged to perform in Nigeria before the end of 2026
- The video sparked fierce backlash from some Nigerians, who linked it to ongoing xenophobic tensions sparked by South Africa's anti-immigration movement
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Source: Instagram
South African singer Loyiso has put out a heartfelt plea to Nigerian promoters and booking agents, calling on them to bring him to the country for a live show — but the appeal landed in complicated territory given the current diplomatic frost between South Africa and Nigeria.
Filming himself in what appeared to be a London hotel room on 23 September 2026, Loyiso delivered a candid, unfiltered monologue in which he revealed that despite Nigeria being his third-biggest streaming country, he has never once set foot on a Nigerian stage. Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt all rank among his top ten streaming cities globally, yet no promoter has stepped forward to book him.
Loyiso's plea to African Promoters
"My third streaming country is Nigeria. I have three cities in Nigeria that are going crazy for my music," he said. "Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, all out there, but I've never done a show in Nigeria. That is ridiculous."
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Speaking from London, where he confirmed there are ongoing conversations about European shows, Loyiso lamented that Africa is entirely absent from those discussions. He extended his frustration beyond Nigeria, naming Namibia, Zambia, and Kenya as markets where he also has a loyal following but has never toured. The singer placed some of the blame on a broader failure of infrastructure, pointing to a shortage of reliable agents and promoters on the continent who can properly connect artists with their audiences.
"I don't understand what's going on. Like I don't know where the disconnect is, but people are trying to book me, but no one — and there's no agents in Africa that are serving the people and serving them properly," he said, before setting himself a firm deadline: "Nigeria, I promise you, before the end of this year, I need to be there."
Backlash Amid SA-Nigeria Tensions
The video emerged against the backdrop of rising tensions between South Africans and Nigerians, fuelled by the March and March anti-illegal immigration movement, which saw many African nationals deported or forced out of South Africa. Several African promoters responded by pulling South African artists from their lineups in protest.
Watch Loyiso's emotional plea for a Nigerian show:
The reaction online was sharply divided. Some Nigerians felt his request was tone-deaf given the current climate, while others expressed sympathy.
@MetOrjiChukwudi wrote:
"Nigerians, please disregard these South Africans. They don't love us, and they hate us more than anything else in this world. Nigeria and African promoters out there reading this message, please understand the manipulative minds of most South Africans... I beg of you, do not promote or support this South African artist to rise because they are ungrateful by DNA and wicked."
@polsofGEM was equally blunt:
"He's acting lame as if he doesn't know what seed our people had sowed in the minds of these African countries. Bra better go do a show in Durban, Soweto or Mtata. Nobody gives a flying kite about South African artistes in Africa after what the mobs did to our African bro & sis."
@KufySinger72632 offered a more measured take:
"Despite the fact I don't like some south Africans but I do believe there are few good ones like him."
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Source: Briefly News
