Grammy-winning South African star Tyla has responded after Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage publicly apologised on her behalf to African-Americans over her self-identification as “coloured.” The controversy erupted when Tyla used the term—commonly accepted in South Africa to describe people of mixed descent but considered derogatory in the United States—sparking backlash from Black Americans.

During an appearance on The Breakfast Club, Tiwa Savage referred to herself as Tyla’s “elder” and extended an apology to the Black community, a move that infuriated many South Africans who accused her of overstepping and misrepresenting Tyla’s identity. Social media users in South Africa blasted Savage for speaking without fully grasping the country’s historical and cultural context regarding racial terminology.

Tyla appeared to push back against the apology during her performance at the Global Citizen Festival in New York, where she boldly declared, “Sorry, I am not sorry” before performing her hit “Mr Media.” The remark was widely interpreted as a rejection of Savage’s statement. Thousands of South Africans have since hailed Tyla online for standing firm on her identity and refusing to let outsiders dictate the narrative of her heritage.

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