Grammy Award-winning South African singer Tyla has dismissed Tiwa Savage’s apology to Black Americans over her controversial “coloured” remark, insisting she is “not sorry.”
The 22-year-old singer faced backlash after describing herself as “coloured,” a term commonly used in South Africa to define people of mixed heritage but regarded as offensive in the United States due to its historical ties to segregation and discrimination.
Nigerian star Tiwa Savage, speaking on The Breakfast Club in the U.S., apologised to African-Americans on Tyla’s behalf, calling herself the younger artist’s “elder.” However, her statement sparked anger among South Africans, who argued that Savage had no authority to speak on their racial identity and cultural context.
Tyla appeared to respond during her performance at the Global Citizen Festival in New York over the weekend, pointedly telling the crowd: “Sorry, I am not sorry,” before performing her track Mr Media.
The comment quickly went viral, with many South Africans praising her for standing firm in defence of her identity and distancing herself from Savage’s remarks. Clips of the moment have been widely circulated online, earning Tyla support from fans who accused Savage of misrepresenting the issue.
With the debate continuing across social media, Tyla’s defiance has cemented her stance in the cross-continental controversy, asserting that her identity as “coloured” is valid within her South African context, regardless of its reception abroad.
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