South African and American netizens debate over Tyla’s race

by Staff Bona

Coloured or Black? This is the debate South African and American social media users had regarding Water singer Tyla Seethal’s race.

The Twitter (now known as X) app had Tyla trending after a picture of the singer and American rapper Travis Scott posing for a snap at the GQ afterparty made its way to the internet. After a social media user commented that it was the first time they saw Travis pictured with a Black woman, one user commented that Tyla is not Black but instead Coloured.

According to reports, Tyla, who was born and raised in the city of Johannesburg, is of Indian, Zulu, Mauritian and Irish descent.

Many American X users stated that they refuse to call Tyla Coloured as it is a derogatory term used to identify Black Americans.

“We are absolutely not calling her that though,” said one X user.

Another stated that within the South African borders, Tyla is Coloured. However, outside of SA, she would be classified as Black.

This then prompted quite a few South African X users to clap back at the Americans as they felt the Americans were “erasing Tyla’s identity” due to their uncomfortableness with the term.

“She is not Black. Tyla is Coloured,” wrote a social media user siding with the South Africans point of view. “The racial history of America is not the only one that’s valid. You cannot negate someone’s entire ancestry and lineage simply because it doesn’t fit in with your American world view. Stop erasing Tyla’s identity. It’s not cool.”

Tyla has yet to comment on the racial debate.

Also see: Tyla receives mixed reactions for Travis Scott collab