Tyla noted that in her native South Africa, she would be classified as “Coloured” but outside her country, she is a black woman
By Kehinde Okeowo
South African singer and songwriter, Tyla Laura Seethal, known mononymously as Tyla, has debunked claims that she isn’t black.
She made this known on Thursday night in a statement she shared on her X page.
During banter among fans of singers on social media, there were claims from rival fans that the 22-year-old Grammy-winning singer is “white/Indian” and not black.
Reacting to the innuendos, Tyla took to her verified social media page and clarified that she is mixed race, emphasising that she has black/Zulu, Irish, Mauritian/Indian ancestry.
She further noted that in her native South Africa, she would be classified as “Coloured” but outside her country, she is seen as a black woman.
The ‘Water’ hitmaker went on to insist that she had never denied her blackness.
ALSO READ: Shakira expresses love for Afrobeats, Burna Boy
Speaking via the statement Tyla tweeted, “Yoh guys, [I have] never denied my blackness, idk where that came from…
“I’m mixed with black/Zulu, irish, Mauritian/Indian and Coloured.
“In Southa I would be classified as a Coloured woman and other places I would be classified as a black woman.
“Race is classified differently in different parts of the world.
“I don’t expect to be identified as Coloured outside of Southa by anyone not comfortable doing so because I understand the weight of that word outside of SA. But to close this conversation, I’m both Coloured in South Africa and a black woman.”
Meanwhile, ace Colombian singer and songwriter, Shakira recently confessed her love for Afrobeats genre and African music stars, Burna Boy and Tyla.
Speaking during a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ crooner said, “I love anything Afrobeats. I like Tyla, I like Burna Boy, anything Afrobeats. But I love Burna so much.”