Tyla makes history as the first African artist to sell out Tokyo’s 15,000-capacity Ariake Arena
In the neon-lit sprawl of Tokyo, where J-pop reigns supreme and K-pop crossovers spark frenzied queues, South African pop sensation Tyla has made history as the first African artist to sell out Tokyo’s 15,000-capacity Ariake Arena. On November 11, 2025, the Grammy-winning sensation Tyla performed the first stop of her “We Wanna Party Asia Tour” at the gleaming 15,000-capacity behemoth built for the Olympics and now a proving ground for pop’s boldest invaders. Styled by her go-to visionary Ronnie Hart, the outfit screamed unapologetic sensuality, with delicate straps crisscrossing her shoulders and a high-cut silhouette that amplified her every hip sway during the opener “IS IT”.
Stepping on stage with a bubblegum pink bob wig that stole the show before she even sang a bar. This wig was far from subtle—neon-hued and razor-sharp, the short crop framed her face like a K-pop fever dream, with “TOKYO” emblazoned across the back in glittering script, a cheeky nod to her Japanese takeover. Attendees lost it the moment she tossed it into the crowd mid-set, her natural curls tumbling free in a raw, electric reveal that turned the arena into a frenzy of screams and outstretched arms. Glam artist Ngozi Edeme layered on the luminosity: shimmering highlights for that sun-kissed glow, metallic purple shadow smouldering at the corners of her eyes, and a glossy pink pout that matched the wig’s vibe down to the hue.
Tyla kicked off her ‘We Wanna Party Asia Tour’ with unapologetic flair, performing a large chunk of her catalogue, remixing Beyoncé’s “Yoncé” and Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake” into a sultry prelude alongside her own chart-climber “Body Go” (featuring Moliy). The night peaked with a masterful mash-up of her Sean Paul-assisted “Push 2 Start”, fresh off a 2026 Grammy nod for Best African Music Performance, and Bey’s 2003 dancehall gem “Baby Boy”.
“Just did a sold-out headline show in Tokyo… Like everyone paid to see ME,” Tyla marvelled in a post-show tweet, a sentiment that resonated deeply with fans, seeing the journey of the Johannesburg native—Edenvale-born, global-bred—who has flipped the script in an industry long dominated by Western and East Asian narratives. Her second Grammy nomination this week only amplifies the moment, positioning her as the category’s first two-time winner and a beacon for the next wave of African exports.
While Tokyo’s arenas have hosted foreign heavyweights like Tyler, The Creator (who doubled down on back-to-back sell-outs earlier this year), Tyla’s triumph arrives as a first for the continent. No prior African headliner has commanded Ariake’s scale here, a venue that demands not just talent but cultural crossover appeal. Tyla, going on tour following 2025 releases like her ‘We Wanna Party’ EP featuring Wizkid and her single ‘Chanel’ still rippling through playlists worldwide, seems to have cracked the code. Her tour—spanning 11 dates from Tokyo to Dubai’s Sole DXB festival in December—marks her first full headline run since her 2024 album, evolving from opener to arena conqueror in under two years.
As Tyla’s tour rolls on, expect Tokyo’s echo to reverberate: more sold-out nights and more remixes that honour the past while charging the future. Tyla’s Ariake Arena stop was a conquest, and if this is the opener for the We Wanna Party tour, the encore promises to be legendary.
