Is Tyla Coloured: Debate Rages Between South Africans And Black Americans
A coincidental result of South African singer Tyla’s increasing international fame is that people are now examining her more intently than they have in the past, a fact that keeps the world captivated.
Because of the word’s historical connotations in the US, black Americans took to social media over the weekend to voice their refusal to refer to the “Water” hitmaker as “coloured” seeing this as a racial slander.
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Disturbed by this attitude, Mzansi X users have been criticizing Black Americans for their beliefs and disregarding Tyla’s choice to identify as a woman of colour.
“If Tyla were to forcefully assign you a gender because she didn’t resonate with queerness, it’d be an issue…but you’re dismissing her existence and experience as a COLOURED woman because your little brain can’t fathom the world not revolving around American politics,” commented @lwavezzz to a black American’s refusal to acknowledge Tyla’s ethnicity.
if Tyla were to forcefully assign you a gender because she didn't resonate with queerness, it'd be an issue…but you're dismissing her existence and experience as a COLOURED woman because your little brain can't fathom the world not revolving around American politics. https://t.co/RaydIo497o
— reformed heathen (@LWavezzz) November 19, 2023
@naledimashishi added, “Every two business days Americans on this app argue that Meghan Markle isn’t a black woman because ‘the one drop rule’ but they want to fight tooth and nail to call Tyla, a Coloured woman with mixed ancestry who doesn’t even ID as black, a black person. Make it make sense.”
Every two business days Americans on this app argue that Meghan Markle isn’t a black woman because “the one drop rule” but they want to fight tooth and nail to call Tyla, a Coloured woman with mixed ancestry who doesn’t even ID as black, a black person. Make it make sense
— 🇵🇸 (@naledimashishi) November 19, 2023
SA rapper and podcaster Zingah also weighed in. “Having a huge hit and breaking records is some amazing stuff. But causing this engagement between Americans n southahs is crazy 🔥 Tyla is booming.”
Having a huge hit and breaking records is some amazing stuff. But causing this engagement between Americans n southahs is crazy 🔥
Tyla is booming— Himothy The Boy (@Zingah_LOTJ) November 20, 2023
Unsurprisingly, Nota shared his two cents: “What Tyla is going to teach people that don’t know who & what they are is that there’s no such thing as black people.
“That’s why it’s ‘African’ American not anything else. South Africa doesn’t have blacks, we have Tsonga, Xhosa, Venda, Sotho, Khoi, San, Afrikaners & even a Pedi!”
What Tyla is going to teach people that don’t know who & what they are is that there’s no such thing as black people. That’s why it’s “African” American not anything else. South Africa doesn’t have blacks we have Tsonga, Xhosa, Venda, Sotho, Khoi, San, Afrikaners & even a Pedi!😅
— MORAL Authority (@lavidaNOTA) November 20, 2023
