Tiwa Savage has generated for herself a heated online debate following her recent appearance on the American podcast The Breakfast Club.
The Nigerian singer weighed in on a sensitive topic involving South African artist Tyla, whose self-identification as “coloured” has sparked cross-cultural controversy.
During the interview, co-host Loren Larosa brought up the backlash Tyla faced for using the term “coloured”—a descriptor that is legally recognised and socially accepted in South Africa to refer to people of mixed heritage.
However, in the United States, the word carries a deeply offensive legacy tied to segregation and racism.
Tiwa responded by acknowledging the complexity of the issue, saying that “two truths can exist at once.”
She explained that while the term is normalised in South Africa, it holds negative connotations in the U.S. and added that she didn’t believe Tyla intended to cause harm.
What stirred public outrage, however, was Tiwa’s decision to offer an apology on Tyla’s behalf.
She referenced cultural norms in Nigeria, where elders sometimes apologise on behalf of others to restore peace, and expressed hope that her gesture would be understood as goodwill.
Many South Africans were unimpressed. Critics argued that Tiwa had overstepped, especially since Tyla’s use of the term is rooted in South African history and legal recognition.
The backlash quickly spread across social media, with some users accusing Tiwa of speaking out of turn and misrepresenting the issue.
One user on X wrote, “She has no right to even comment on this issue, as she had no idea of SA history and why this term is legally protected in SA.
Just go to Google.” Another added, “WE didn’t mean it? Which one is ‘we’? Is she South African? She could have just chosen not to answer.”
The incident has reignited conversations about cultural context, identity, and the risks of cross-border commentary in the age of global media.
