South African music star Tyla has spoken candidly about the controversy that erupted after an old video resurfaced showing her describing herself as “coloured,” saying the experience taught her how differently identity can be understood around the world.
The Grammy-winning singer explained that she never expected the description to become a global talking point because, growing up in South Africa, it was simply the identity she had always known.
A Viral Clip Sparked International Backlash
The discussion began in 2023 when a TikTok video originally recorded in 2020 gained widespread attention online.
In the clip, Tyla introduced herself as “a coloured South African” while wearing Bantu knots and a traditional beaded necklace.
Although the phrase is commonly used in South Africa to describe people of mixed-race heritage, many viewers in the United States interpreted it as offensive because of its historical association with racial segregation and discrimination.
The reaction quickly spread across social media, with some American users criticizing the singer and even calling for a boycott as she sought to expand her career internationally.
Singer Says She Had Never Needed to Explain Her Identity
Looking back on the controversy during an interview with Apple Music, Tyla admitted she was caught off guard by the criticism.
She said that for most of her life she had simply identified with the term used in her home country, including on official documents and forms.
It wasn’t until she began traveling internationally that she realized the same word carried vastly different meanings depending on where people lived.
According to Tyla, discovering those cultural differences made her understand why the conversation had become so complicated.
Different Countries, Different Historical Contexts
The “Water” hitmaker emphasized that language cannot always be separated from history.
She acknowledged that South Africa also has racial slurs that would be deeply offensive if used by visitors unfamiliar with the country’s past.
Because of that, she said she understood why Americans reacted strongly to hearing a word tied to their own painful history.
Tyla explained that learning about those differences helped her appreciate the importance of considering context before assuming people share the same cultural understanding.
A Complex Legacy Rooted in South African History
The singer also reflected on the origins of the term in South Africa, where “coloured” became one of the racial classifications imposed during the apartheid era alongside white, black, and Indian.
She noted that while those labels emerged from a painful period of enforced racial separation, they also evolved into cultural identities that many South Africans continue to embrace today.
Tyla described herself as both black and coloured, explaining that the latter reflects her cultural background while also acknowledging the difficult history that shaped it.
Hoping the Debate Leads to Better Understanding
Rather than dwelling on the backlash, Tyla said she hopes the controversy encourages more open conversations about identity across different cultures.
She believes the experience has been an important learning opportunity, both for herself and for people unfamiliar with South Africa’s unique historical context.
While she hopes greater understanding can come from the discussions, she also recognizes that there may never be a single answer accepted everywhere.
A Conversation She Believes Will Continue
In a separate interview with The Times, Tyla admitted that debates surrounding racial identity are unlikely to disappear.
She observed that words can take on completely different meanings depending on the country and its history, making universal agreement difficult.
For that reason, she said she has chosen not to focus on the ongoing online arguments, accepting that perspectives will continue to vary across cultures.
