South Africa’s Tyla ignites cultural debate on racial identity
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A 21-year-old musician from South Africa named Tyla has become very popular for her music. However, she has also found herself in the middle of a debate about her racial identity. Tyla, who is of mixed race, refers to herself as "coloured." She made a video on TikTok where she proudly talks about her heritage, but it caused a lot of controversy online.
In the video, Tyla wears clothes that represent her cultural background and proudly identifies as a "coloured South African" to show her ties to different communities. But, this statement has caused a disagreement, especially in America, where people see it as an offensive term because it was linked to laws that promoted segregation in the past.
The use of the term "coloured" by Tyla has caused unease among American internet users, who believe that it may harm her career in the United States. However, in South Africa, "coloured" is a term that is officially recognised as an identity, with its roots in the complicated history of a community formed under apartheid laws.
The group of people with various skin tones, making up 8.2% of the total population in South Africa, have a vibrant and multifaceted cultural heritage that stems from different roots but came together during the apartheid period. Though they face difficulties, Tyla and others take pride in their unique identity and honor it.
The widely known South African radio personality Carissa Cupido, previously interviewed Tyla two years back, praises the musician for making the exclusive amapiano sound popular and achieving worldwide recognition. Having grown up in an area mainly populated by colured individuals, Cupido expresses happiness on witnessing Tyla shattering boundaries and becoming an inspiration for future generations.
Tyla has achieved a lot, but some in America are criticizing her for using the word "coloured" because of its historical significance. Experts from South Africa have advised not to force American opinions onto Tyla's identity and instead respect her own identification.
Tyla is getting ready to drop a fresh album and has been nominated for a Grammy. However, the dispute regarding her racial identity is likely to persist, bringing attention to the larger issue of cultural awareness and comprehension in the music industry world-wide.
Other resources • bbc
