Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has refuted claims suggesting she is not of African descent.
Amidst assertions from rival fans on social media that the 22-year-old artist is of "white/Indian" heritage rather than black, Tyla responded with a statement shared on her X page Thursday night.
In her statement, Tyla clarified that she is of mixed race, highlighting her lineage which includes black/Zulu, Irish, and Mauritian/Indian ancestry. She explained that while she would be classified as "Coloured" within South Africa due to its specific racial classifications, outside of her native country, she identifies as a black woman.
The 'Water' sensation affirmed that she has never denied her black heritage, expressing her understanding of how racial classifications vary across different regions of the world.
Tyla concluded her statement by acknowledging the complexities of racial identity, stating, "I don’t expect to be identified as Coloured outside of South Africa 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."