Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla has made it clear that she does not share Nigerian star Tiwa Savage’s apology to Black Americans over her “coloured” identity comments.

Tyla recently came under fire after identifying as “coloured,” a term commonly used in South Africa to describe people of mixed heritage but considered offensive in the United States due to its historical ties to segregation and racism.

During an interview on The Breakfast Club, Tiwa Savage apologised to the African-American community “on behalf” of Tyla, describing herself as the young star’s “elder.”

The move sparked criticism from South Africans, who accused Savage of overstepping by speaking on Tyla’s behalf without fully understanding the cultural context of the term.

Tyla responded indirectly during her performance at the Global Citizen Festival in New York, boldly stating:

“Sorry, I am not sorry,” before performing her song Mr Media.

Her statement was widely interpreted as a public rejection of Savage’s apology, with many South Africans praising her for standing firm in her identity. Clips of the moment have gone viral across social media, with fans lauding Tyla for “taking her power back” in the ongoing debate.