South African singer Tyla has addressed the backlash she faced after describing herself as 'coloured,' a term that sparked controversy when it was perceived differently in international contexts, particularly in the United States. Tyla, 24, who hails from Johannesburg and recently made history as the youngest African artist to win a Grammy Award, explained the term's significance within her home country.
In 2023, a TikTok video from three years prior resurfaced, showing Tyla identifying as 'a coloured South African.' This led to accusations of 'sparking a culture war,' as the term 'coloured' can be considered a slur in the US, harkening back to segregationist laws.
However, Tyla clarified that in South Africa, 'coloured' is a designation for people of mixed-race descent. It was one of four racial categories established during apartheid, alongside white, black, and Indian. Tyla's father is of Indian and Mauritian descent, and her mother is of Irish and Zulu heritage.
"Initially, it was very difficult... I started getting backlash and I was like, 'Whoa, I don't know what else to say about it,' you know, because I never had to explain myself," Tyla said in an interview with Apple Music. "I was just always myself, and at the time – 22 years of my life – all I knew was that I'm coloured and that's what I was told. It's what I had to tick on boxes back home."
She further explained that her travels broadened her understanding of how different countries interpret terms. "When I learned about what it means here [in the US], I was like, whoa, this is going to be a difficult conversation to have."
Tyla acknowledged that South Africa also has derogatory terms, and she understands why a visitor using similar language could be triggering. "I feel just having a lot of conversations and learning more about it – I know that being coloured is like my culture, you know, it exists in my context, but I'm also black," she stated. "Being coloured is something that happened through a lot of pain. Our South African history is very painful. We were separated from each other and given these names and colour became our culture. So, it's still something that we're very prideful about."
Tyla views the experience as a valuable learning opportunity. "I think it was a very important thing for me to go through and learn and for the conversations to just open up, you know. And I just hope whoever sees this can make their videos on TikTok and maybe we can come to some sort of understanding."
Reflecting on the ongoing nature of such discussions, Tyla told The Times, "Everywhere you go it means something else. It's just a conversation that's never ending. I'm off that train."
The initial controversy stemmed from a 2020 video where Tyla styled her hair in Bantu knots and wore a traditional beaded necklace, with the text 'I am a coloured South African' displayed. This led to American fans threatening boycotts, with some media outlets claiming Tyla had ignited a 'culture war.' Social media commentary at the time warned that using the term 'coloured' in the US market could harm her career.
Tyla's music career began in 2019 with her debut single, 'Getting Late.' She had taken a year off from pursuing a degree in Mining Engineering to focus on music, a decision that proved fruitful with her 2023 hit single 'Water.' The song reached the top 10 in the UK, US, and South Africa, boosted by a viral TikTok dance challenge.
In 2024, Tyla became the first recipient of the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for 'Water.' During her acceptance speech, she highlighted the global impact of African music beyond the Afrobeats genre, specifying her own music as Amapiano, a South African house music subgenre. She emphasized the diversity of African music and expressed pride in representing her culture and South Africa.