Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has addressed claims on social media that question her racial identity, affirming her mixed-race heritage and black identity.
Reacting to comments from rival fans who suggested she is “white/Indian” and not black, the 22-year-old artist clarified her background in a statement shared via her X (formerly Twitter) page on Thursday night.
“I have never denied my blackness, I don’t know where that came from,” Tyla stated. “I’m mixed with black/Zulu, Irish, Mauritian/Indian and Coloured.”
She further explained that in South Africa, she would be classified as “Coloured,” but internationally, she identifies as a black woman.
“In Southa [South Africa] I would be classified as a Coloured woman and other places I would be classified as a black woman,” she wrote. “Race is classified differently in different parts of the world.”
Tyla acknowledged the differing perspectives on racial classification globally and expressed understanding about the complexities surrounding these identities. “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,” she concluded.
Tyla, known for her hit song “Water,” emphasized her pride in her diverse heritage and reiterated that she embraces all aspects of her identity.
