Tyla, a Grammy-winning South African singer, has refuted claims that she is not black.
There were allegations on social media by rival fans that the 22-year-old singer is actually “white/Indian” and not of black descent.
In a statement shared on her X page on Thursday night, Tyla set the record straight by stating that she is of mixed race.
She clarified that her ancestry includes black/Zulu, Irish, and Mauritian/Indian roots.
Tyla pointed out that in South Africa, she would be classified as “Coloured,” but outside of her country she would be seen as a black woman.
The statement read, “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.”
