Latest news with #Tyla
Mail & Guardian
10 hours ago
- General
- Mail & Guardian
Unpacking South Africans' response to ‘the 59ers'
(Graphic: John McCann/M&G) It is Tuesday evening. I am seated with a friend and my son in our favourite restaurant in Bloemfontein. My son listens to our conversation as I note that the 49 Afrikaner migrants (or 59 as some reports suggest) incorrectly and problematically afforded refugee status through executive order by the Trump administration have landed in the US. Their departure is called the 'Great Tsek' on social media. We laugh conspiratorially. South Africans respond to most situations with a trademark humour that inspires much hilarity. We repeat the in-joke in multi-cultural and multi-classed spaces — taxis, buses, lecture halls, at a Sunday braai, in a coffee shop, between co-workers — we evoke the reality of co-created belonging through humour. Our humour, a shared South African-ness irrespective of historicised divisions of race, class, creed or gender, masks our discomfort, or psychological and emotional pain. Whether we are supporting Tyla's right to self-define as coloured — while ridiculing and stereotyping colouredness — and interrogating black Americans' failure to unpack the context of coloured in South Africa, or vituperatively disowning Elon Musk, South Africans have a unique, enmeshed and complex affinity and loyalty to each other. Amorphous and responsive, this loyalty is an organic response to a perceived threat, or a show of appreciation or forgiveness — recall our troetelnaam (pet name) for our president: Cupcake. South African humour and loyalty are revealed on TikTok, Instagram and X. On these platforms we deconstruct the perceptions and slights of 'ordinary' South Africans as we digest and metabolise the news together, as South Africans, and as global citizens in conversation with other global citizens. We find solace in our derision, and the truth etched onto the edges of that laughter. The phrase 'Great Tsek' is an incisive commentary on the double-edged nature of the 59ers' departure. As South African stayers imagine saying that, they remind us of a socio-cultural memory in which white Afrikaners would chase black people from their farms with the word 'voertsek' (go away, get lost). And in return, based on commentary from a few of the emigrants, we can duly imagine the 59ers exclaiming 'voertsek' as they took off from OR Tambo International Airport. The phrase, Great Tsek, thus points to a rejection that is mirrored by those who stay (are left behind) and those who leave. Amid the laughter M, a young black woman who has experienced the harrowing loss of dispossession of family-owned land in the Free State through apartheid's legalised appropriation of land, comments: 'I'm laughing, but they're still South African, man! What are they going to experience there? It doesn't matter that they are white. I worry about them. They are us.' As a national human collective — South Africans — we don't want to be rejected, or 'left behind'. It is a typical human response to excise the offending parties from our collective. But still there are those among us, like my friend, who compassionately tries to understand the reasons for the 59ers' departure, and hopes that they haven't made a mistake that will have enduring negative repercussions. The reasons for emigration are multiple, but this particular departure underscores a severance of ties with the land of their birth, our South African humour, and much more that embodies a particular national expression of humanity. The 59ers are not Europeans; much less American. They are South Africans; and we are a complicated mengelmoes (mixture) of peoples who embody various amalgamated traditions, languages, orientations, humour, oppressions and battle scars. Violence, risk and resilience are endemic to the South African narrative, no matter which ethnic tributary you lay claim to as you arrive here on the shores of a contemporary South Africa that is being lived in the trenches and robustly debated on the streets of social media. Those who speak, who stay, who worstel (struggle) with the inadequacies of the state, birth South Africa's next chapter in which every lineage and narrative have value. We navigate turbulent racialised, ethnicised and citizenship currents, potholed roads and jagged promises of well-being for all in rickety boats, maladapted vehicles and kaal voete (bare feet) together. We are not necessarily seasoned or adequately equipped; and the shoreline of our dreams is unfamiliar, with the horizon blurred and distant. But for those who stay, the vision of a South Africa that supports the well-being of all her citizens inspires us to put our shoulders to the wheel, and to live not only for ourselves but for others. Each one who voluntarily remains behind assumes an active role in envisioning, dreaming, crafting, moulding and building South Africa's next chapter. Each one. And so, during supper when my son asks what the word 'colonisation' means I try simply to chart South Africa's convoluted history. His response — 'not all white people are like that' — is not a negation of our past. Rather his words confirm, as a seven-year-old, that his immediate and direct experience does not align with our 'black and white' histories. They offer a moment of pause, as I come to terms with what my lineage has experienced pre-apartheid, what I have experienced during and post-apartheid and the future my son is living into existence. He demands from me, and you, a conscious recognition of how far we have travelled as South Africans to be here — constructing our futures with clear sight of our histories. His words defy an easy, glib and uncontextualised narrative of what makes us South African. And, like M, he inspires us to accept that we are complex and incomplete as South Africans, whether at home, or in the US, without each other. Professor Joy Owen is the head of the department of anthropology at the University of the Free State.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Pope's catch of curious gift thrown from crowd sparks admiration and concern
Pope Leo has impressed the world with a one-handed catch of a gift thrown to him from the crowd at St Peter's Square – though it also sparked debate around his security. The 69-year-old was waving to the crowd from his 'popemobile' as it trundled around the Vatican during his weekly general audience on Wednesday. He nearly missed a plush doll made in his likeness being held up by one fan as he passed by a few feet away. But, noticing it at the last second, he appeared to encourage its owner to toss it over. The wellwisher obliged, and Pope Leo caught the doll neatly in one hand without breaking his stance. Footage of the moment quickly went viral, with many commenting the moment hearkened to his American roots. 'Baseball level catch. You can tell by the form,' one user said on X. Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, who became head of the Catholic Church as Pope Leo XIV on May 8, is known to be an ardent fan of his hometown's White Sox baseball team. Others argued it was concerning that a member of the public should have been able to throw something into the popemobile. 'Adorable but his security is definitely slipping,' one wrote. Another said: 'This is honestly lovely to see but what is his security doing? Seriously.' However the incident clearly did not faze the Pope's bodyguards, and the person who threw the doll did not face any reaction from them. Renowned personal security expert Will Geddes previously said Pope Leo's popemobile trips are protected with several layers of extremely tough security. He told Tyla magazine earlier this month that the Vatican security team 'would have strongly advised against it if they felt that they did not have control of the environments he was going to be driving through – and that's not just on the ground, that's also the high ground – people spotters, snipers, alike, who are going to be on rooftops who will have a good overwatch of the crowd below'. More Trending He added: 'That would also mean that they've got good security on the grounds in controlling and searching and testing for anybody who's coming into that environment, and ensuring that they didn't have a repeat of the previous assassination attempt [of Pope John Paul] back in 1981.' In the wake of his election, there was some speculation as to whether he supported the White Sox or their Chicago Cubs rivals. But his brother, John Prevost, clarified Robert was 'always a Sox fan' and footage has emerged of him in the team's stands at a 2005 game. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Pope Leo set to meet with Ukraine's Zelensky and JD Vance after inauguration MORE: I found a hidden side to Rome in the 'city that never was' MORE: Pope Leo XIV warns of 'third world war' in first Sunday blessing as pontiff
The South African
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Tyla wins the 2025 American Music Award for Afrobeats
Tyla wins the 2025 AMA (American Music Award)! On 27 May, the South African songstress took home the accolade for Favourite Afrobeats Artist at the 2025 American Music Awards. The Grammy Award winner is enjoying a streak of success in Hollywood. It's been announced that Tyla will be hosting the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards on 21 June at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. She wrote on her X account: 'I'm really about to host the kids' choice awards 💀🤍🙈.' The multi-award-winning star has also joined Rihanna and Cardi B for the star-studded soundtrack for the new Smurfs movie. Tyla has won a total of 30 industry awards throughout her career. With another one under her belt, she's determined to add more. The 23-year-old's self-titled debut studio album was released in 2024 and debuted at number 24 on the US Billboard 200 chart. 'When my career took off, I realised God had his own plans,' Tyla said in her acceptance speech. 'I just feel very lucky for my fans who have given me such an exciting life, allowing me to grow in front of the world into all the different versions of myself as an artist and as a woman. 'I appreciate the way music has been able to impact us through time and how I'm just a manifestation of that.' Tyla was nominated alongside well-known Afrobeats artists like Wizkid, Asake, and Rema. Tems was also among the nominees, despite being a R&B singer. Tyla winning the award reignited the debate about the American music industry's tendency to group African artists under the same genre. In September 2024, Tyla won an Afrobeats award at the MTV Video Music Awards for her viral song Water . 'This is just so special but also bittersweet because I know there's a tendency to group all Africans under Afrobeats,' Tyla said at the time. 'I come from South Africa, and I represent Amapiano, and I just want to shout out the Afrobeats artists in this category with me.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Save the date! Tyla's new track for the ‘Smurfs' soundtrack drops on June 13
Tyla's highly anticipated original track for the 'Smurfs' soundtrack is dropping on June 13. Image: X The wait is almost over for South African sensation Tyla's new song, featured on the upcoming 'Smurfs' movie soundtrack. After teasing fans with the movie's trailer and a few soundtrack drops, including Rihanna's 'Friend of Mine' and DJ Khaled's 'Higher Love', fans are eagerly anticipating the 'Push 2 Start' singer's original track. According to the latest updates, the soundtrack, which includes an original song by the 'Bliss' hitmaker, is set to drop on Friday, June 13. While Rihanna's 'Friend of Mine' received mixed reviews from fans, who were expecting a bigger comeback from the music icon, Tyla's song is expected to bring a fresh vibe to the soundtrack. The song's style and sound are yet to be revealed, but the eight-second clip that is circulating gives just enough glimpse of what to expect from the vibrant and versatile 'popiano' artist. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading short snippet of Tyla's upcoming 'Smurfs movie' soundtrack. — tii 🐅 (@tylasbliss) May 28, 2025 The 'Smurfs' movie is set to be a visual treat, with the film set to hit theatres on Friday, July 18. The animated film promises to bring a fresh take on the classic characters, and the soundtrack is expected to complement the movie's tone and style. The 23-year-old singer is known to deliver chart-topping hits and has proven that with her debut album, including the deluxe version and recent single, 'Bliss'. Will Tyla's track live up to the hype? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the 'Smurfs' soundtrack is going to be a wild ride with contributions from big names like Rihanna, Cardi B, and now Tyla.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
With the Charm Bracelet Resurgence and Tyla as Its Face, Pandora Jewelry Is Having Another Moment
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1982, Pandora has truly become synonymous with charm bracelets. And while there's no denying its enduring global popularity (using sales as the metric, it follows Cartier and Tiffany & Co. as the third-largest jewelry company in the world), the 2010s' affinity for daintier pieces brought other brands to the forefront of the accessory scene. But now, as chunkier styles and silver has regained momentum, Pandora is back on top. More from The Hollywood Reporter Elemis' Viral Cleansing Balm Gets a Rare Price Drop for the Hollywood-Loved Brand's Memorial Day Sale This No-Caffeine Drink from Costco Kept Stars Energized at the 'Lilo & Stitch' Premiere Chad Michael Murray Dishes on 'A Cinderella Story' Make-Out in Lancôme's Starry Y2K Campaign (Exclusive) Moreover, in April of this year, the Danish brand announced Grammy Award-winning artist Tyla as its newest ambassador, sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes imagery from the 'Water' singer's inaugural shoot with The Hollywood Reporter. As emphasized in Tyla's campaign last month, Pandora stands out for its wide range of customization options, making it an ideal gift for oneself or a loved one. Focusing on the brand's trending charm bracelets, the first step is picking out the bracelet itself. A few favorites include: $75-$125 at amazon Sold with a sterling silver heart ($75), rose gold heart ($125) or yellow gold heart, as pictured above ($125). $75-$200 at amazon Also available in a 14k rose gold-plated variety ($200). $75-$200 at amazon Sold in sterling silver ($75), rose gold-plated metal ($200) or yellow gold-plated metal, as pictured above ($200). $75-2,099.99 at amazon Also available in solid 14k yellow gold ($2,099.99). $75 at amazon As for charms, see below for 10 standouts. Before purchasing, ensure the chosen charms are compatible with the selected bracelet. Since the base bracelets look good whether they have no charms, one charm or loads of charms, they can grow with the wearer and continuously commemorate special moments and life milestones: birthdays, graduations, growing families and so on. $38 at amazon $30 $35 14% off Buy at amazon Also available in rose gold ($45). $50 at amazon $55 at amazon $45 at amazon $45 at amazon $50 at amazon $35 at amazon $75 at amazon $30 $38 21% off Buy at amazon Related: High/Low: Kate Spade's Hinge Bangle Offers Affordable Alternative to Cartier's Hollywood-Staple Love Bracelet Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Lady in the Lake' to 'It Ends With Us': 29 New and Upcoming Book Adaptations in 2024 Meet the Superstars Who Glam Up Hollywood's A-List Rosie O'Donnell on Ellen, Madonna, Trump and 40 Years in the Queer Spotlight
