Tyla, a South African global pop star, has been subjected to public harangues since her debut. In the court of public opinion, she stands accused of pomposity, posturing for a white audience, cultural appropriation, and, most amusingly, of being an entitled, uppity African. And, on a completely different side of the internet, she is being torn apart with copycat allegations.
Tyla Laura Seethal, known professionally as Tyla, blew up when her song “Water” took the streets by storm in 2023. With Water, she introduced a new audience to the hip-shaking, heart-racing, and knee-buckling Bacardi dance, which originated in South Africa. The dance was renamed the “Water dance” by this new audience. Tyla went ahead to rack up multiple awards with this song, including the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats Video, Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, and Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Artist.
Post-Water, Tyla became inescapable in the American media. During the major comeback of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, she delivered a powerful performance. She hosted the Kids’ Choice Award. She also performed at multiple music festivals like the Coachella. Each achievement heightened the fabricated controversy. Anybody who doesn’t understand the history of Tyla’s rise to fame would ask, “What is the problem with Tyla?” and “Why is she so unlikable?” Let’s break it down.
Tyla and her heritage
Recently, in an interview with Breakfast Club, Tiwa Savage apologised to America on Tyla’s behalf. This apology was issued as a result of the debates surrounding Tyla’s heritage. This debate is the most prominent controversy since Tyla’s debut in the American market. This skirmish began when a TikTok she shot as far back as 2020 resurfaced, and in this video, she slicks her coily hair into Bantu knots while adorned in a traditional beaded necklace. She is mute in it and communicates with a caption that appears on the screen as the video progresses.
I am a Coloured South African, which means I come from a lot of different cultures. In my family, one of those cultures is Zulu. I’m exploring my African heritage by wearing Bantu knots.
In this video, which was once harmless, she was asked about her cultural heritage by a follower. She describes herself as a “Coloured South African”. She doesn’t just stop there; she goes ahead to explain what the term “Coloured” means. While Coloured is a term used to describe mixed-race people in South Africa, the term holds a much different meaning abroad—especially in the United States of America, where it is considered outdated and offensive.
If any of these people who are offended by the word Coloured are asked, “When did Tyla say she wasn’t Black in America?”, they wouldn’t be able to point to one interview or social media post. That is because Tyla never explicitly said she wasn’t Black. This is all fabricated by social media’s thirst for drama. In Tyla’s first major intentional magazine cover, the cover star stated, “You know that even if you give the best explanation, people will still choose not to understand,” then added, “But I’m at a point where I know who I am. I know I’m a Black woman, and I know I’m a Coloured woman as well, and you can be both. And the people who care to learn, they understand now. And that’s enough for me.”
Another moment that fanned the flames was during a Breakfast Club interview. Tyla was asked by one of the hosts to school them on the debate being had about her identity, but she ignored the question and nonverbally signalled her team, which was behind the camera, and they requested that the question be cut out. When this clip hit social media, there was an outpour of outrage. Most Netizens believed that it was the perfect chance for her to address the public, particularly African Americans, on her cultural identity, and she missed it arrogantly. Recognising this “mistake”, Tyla posted a note on Twitter and Instagram addressing the questions surrounding her heritage. The note reads “I never denied my blackness, don’t know where that came from…”. She explains that she is considered Coloured in South Africa, and in other parts of the world, she would be considered Black.
This particular debate birthed another one where the public started poking at Tyla’s attitude and mannerisms.
Tyla and her attitude
After the Breakfast Club interview, many people started peddling the claims that she lacked humility. Tyla attended the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards and took home the Moonman trophy in the category of Best Afrobeat Artist for her breakout and global track, “Water.” Her award was presented to her by Halle Bailey and Lil Nas X. Immediately, Lil Nas X hands over the award to her, and she complains that the award is too heavy.
Oh my gosh, you guys know me and holding awards, ehiay! I’m not strong enough. Please, please, can you help me?”
She beckons to someone to help her hold her award. Lil Nas X takes back the award from her, and she proceeds to give her speech. When this video made it to social media, most people misconstrued it as disrespectful to Halle Bailey. It is important to note that both Halle Bailey and Lil Nas X were on the stage. Why then did those people believe he was being rude to Halle and not Lil Nas X? Following the drama on social media, Tyla, once again, took to X and wrote, “Y’all make everything weird… I was not asking my girl Halle… We just girls. STFU I WON A VMAAAA.” Halle replied to her tweet and said, “Exactly (inserts heart emoji) love u babes congrats.” Tyla responded and said, “Thank youuuu.” Both ladies brushed past the internet-concocted squabble. Guess who did not? The people who were not involved. This particular backlash birthed the term “Entitled Uppity African”. This was the term “critics” used for Tyla.
If there is one thing the Millennials and Gen Zs love, it is a healthy dose of nostalgia. Digital cameras, Y2k, and even using old iPhones to take pictures, there is always a resurgence of traditions. This could be the reason the audience is quick to draw comparisons when they see contemporary artistes do things remotely similar to those of the previous generations. They love a reference. They point at it even when it is nonexistent. Tyla took the Coachella stage in April, performing in a green bra, micro denim shorts, and a body chain. Fans pointed out the similarity between Tyla’s outfit and that of Britney Spears, when the pop icon performed “I’m a Slave 4 U” at the 2001 MTV VMAs, over two decades earlier. She is also wearing a green bra and blue sequin micro shorts.
In response to a since-deleted post on X asserting that Tyla was inspired by Spears, the South African pop star took the opportunity to clarify her intentions, “Love her, but I just thought the outfit was fly … no inspo.” Another user jumped in to add, “I personally think she is a copycat and too full of herself.” Tyla then fired back with, “Personally, I think you should stfu.” Tyla’s reply became the affirmation to people who believed she indeed had an attitude problem.
‘Tyla thee thief’
The most recent copycat allegation thrown at Tyla was by Chxrry, the Canadian performer of the semi-viral song “Main character.” Chxrry revived the 2010 hair of the summer when she debuted her side part sew-in with wavy cornrows. She opened the floodgate, and people began recreating the style in different variants. A member of the Tyger nation—Tyla’s fanbase—had posted a video of Tyla asking other members if Tyla was possibly on set for the “Mr Media” music video. In the video, Tyla has similar hair to Chxrry, but hers is in a bob. A Chxrry fan quotes it, alerting Chxrry to be careful that Tyla was stealing from her. Chxrry responds with “What’s new lol.”
Sadly, this is not Tyla’s first copycat allegation. Tyla’s style is a big part of her image in the media, so a lot of people try their best to define it. Another person Tyla gets compared to all the time is Rihanna. Tyla wears short hair; there is a picture mix of Rihanna wearing something similar. Tyla wears baggy pants; there is a fan out there ready to show the world a picture of Rihanna doing the same. Most fans even believe that Tyla’s team is selling her to the American market the same way Rihanna was sold. However, they refuse to buy what Tyla is selling. They refer to it as inauthentic and heavy public relations.
On a different continent, Africa, Tyla faces two court cases. One that accuses her of dominating the Afrobeat scene internationally, despite making Popiano music, and another that believes she stole Ayra Star’s style, an Afropop star’s, and ran off to a Western audience to appear authentic.
Now, the first claim may be valid; nonetheless, critics are pointing their fingers at the wrong person. Tyla has won a VMA, EMA, and BBMA for Best Afrobeat. Unlike the Grammys, where Tyla has to submit her music, Tyla learns about her nomination for these awards when everyone else does. Westerners have created this genre in awards, and they don’t fully understand it, so every African act will have to come under Afrobeat even when they make pop music, rhythm and blues, or amapiano. Tyla addresses the concerns of Africans on the 2024 MTV stage as she received her award for Best Afrobeat music video, “I know there is a tendency to group all African artistes under Afrobeats. Even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It is more than just Afrobeats. I come from South Africa, and I represent Amapiano”. Tyla’s VMA acceptance speech clearly calls out the miscategorisation of African music. If Tyla herself has addressed this, shouldn’t opprobrium shift sides to the Western producers of these awards now?
Over to the second claim, Tyla stole Ayra Star’s style. Tyla and Ayra’s Star began interacting on social media as far back as 2023, before Water. Both girls are acquaintances who have fawned over each other. They even have a song together. In 2024, the girls were also spotted at a Lagos club with Tems, an Afro R&B artiste, during the Detty December season. It is important to understand that there is no bad blood between these two women who are constantly pitted against each other by media consumers. Copycat allegations are merely fans doing what they do: bringing up a case that has not been filed by parties in court.
A full style analysis by Chinazam Ikechi Iko, a fashion enthusiast and writer, tells the public that these girls’ styles are nothing alike. She states that Tyla’s styling is intentional and reminiscent of the 80s deconstructivism style, while Ayra Star has an eclectic style, taking on several trends and personalising them. The general public simply sees a miniskirt and jumps to their feet, but women all over the world wear miniskirts. Do women all over the world dress alike?
Tyla is not the problem
Every celebrity is bound to be disliked. When a public figure is made subject to over one million eyes, it is only a balanced world if some of those eyes are rolled in discontent. However, Tyla’s hate train is a bit sinister. The anger directed toward her is never about anything controversial enough. A good hypothesis that has been put forth as to why she keeps getting caught up in a web of debate is that the West feels entitled to her success, and they expect her to perform subservience and bend fully to the Western market. This is why they want her to apologise for a statement she never made. This is why some are confused about why she is not making purely pop music. If Rihanna, who is also racially ambiguous, did that at the start of her career, why not Tyla?
Tyla is not the problem. Tyla has done nothing wrong for Tiwa Savage to apologise to America on her behalf. Tyla never said she wasn’t Black. Tyla has never openly disrespected anyone, to stand accused of a stank attitude. Tyla has also never claimed to be an Afrobeats artiste. The constant backlash that she has no personality and leaves no impression is a clear case of people letting bias, hate, and media disinformation shut their vision from true talent. The real problem lies with people who have forgotten that music is an art form to be enjoyed without a major focus on the creator, to the extent that they fabricate lies and drama to keep themselves entertained.
The music should be the entertainment, and Tyla has great music.
