“African Bad Girl” Tiwa Savage has ruffled the feathers of South Africans after weighing in on the ongoing controversy between South African singer Tyla and Americans, over her identification as ‘coloured.’
When asked about the ongoing controversy during her recent interview with The Breakfast Club, the Nigerian singer acknowledged the harsh connotations of the word ‘coloured’ in American culture and the identification in South African cultures.
She then apologised on Tyla’s behalf, stating that in Nigerian culture, adults often apologise on behalf of their younger ones who transgressed.
“I feel two truths can be real. I don’t know what the first thing she said was that sparked the conversation. But I know that where she’s from, they don’t call her black, she’s coloured, not mixed. I get why it’s a huge thing here because of that history behind the word,” she explained.
When Asked About Tyla’s ‘Colour’ Comment, Tiwa Savage Shared Her Perspective. pic.twitter.com/mp8mcmCeFa
— 𝗧𝗶𝘄𝗮’𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱⚔️ (@savagesourcee) September 25, 2025
I felt for her, and I know that she’s young, and I don’t think she means to come off like that. But where I’m from, they say the younger would say, ‘on behalf of so and so, we apologise.’ If that wasn’t communicated, on her behalf, I apologise, forgive us..I don’t think it came from a bad place.
Savage’s comments, though well-intended, did not sit well with South Africans who took to social media to call her out for speaking on the ‘coloured’ discourse.
Reactions to Tiwa’s Apology
And this is the type of bootlicking African they wanted Tyla to be. Tiwa Savage had no business apologising on behalf of Tyla to who I don’t know for what. Because Tyla said absolutely nothing wrong. You can always count on a Nigerian to embarrass the African continent.
And this is the type of bootlicking African they wanted Tyla to be. Tiwa Savage had no business apologizing on behalf of Tyla to who and I don't know for what. Because Tyla said absolutely nothing wrong. You can always count on a Nigerian to embarrass the African continent🧵 pic.twitter.com/Mm65B5kzNM
— Lord Elrich R. Woolfe🐺 (@ruxadewoolfe) September 25, 2025
I hate Africans that are pick mes for Americans because what was Tiwa Savage doing apologising on behalf of Tyla on that show full of dummies, mind you, she is speaking for someone from a country that she knows nothing about the history of, just pissed me off.
I hate Africans that are pick mes for Americans because what was Tiwa Savage doing apologising on behalf of Tyla on that show full of dummies, mind you she is speaking for someone from a country that she knows nothing about the history of, just pissed me off pic.twitter.com/7zWwpEAYxN
— cuntsommia (@notyoursommia) September 25, 2025
