American songstress and pop icon, Beyonce once said: “I can never be safe; I always try and go against the grain. As soon as I accomplish one thing, I just set a higher goal. That’s how I’ve gotten to where I am”.
Just like Beyonce, Nigerian songstress, Tiwa Savage has fought for her place in an industry that is male dominated. Tiwa’s work ethic, consistency and understanding of what her fan base needs, is perhaps the recipe behind her success.
The Beginning
The Isale Eko born singer relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education. Her music career kicked doing backup vocals for artists such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige. As a result of the growth of the Nigerian music industry, Savage relocated to Nigeria in 2012. She signed a record deal with Mavin Records and made an appearance on the label’s 2012 compilation album Solar Plexus.
The Success Story
TheNewsGuru reports that Tiwa has released a total of 3 successful music projects; Once Upon a Time (2013), R.E.D (2015), and Sugarcane (2017).
In 2018, she won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win the category.
In June 2016 she signed a management and publishing deal with Roc Nation – another first for a Nigerian female artiste. In May 2019, she also announced her record deal with Universal Music Group and exit from Mavin Records. On 24 August 2018, Savage headlined a concert at The O2’s Indigo venue. General admission tickets sold out hours before the event. The concert featured additional performances from Don Jazzy, Reekado Banks and others.
The struggles
TheNewsGuru recalls that in 2019, the sultry 40- year old singer took to her Instastory to express concerns about companies trying to play on her intelligence and warned that she might resort to “calling them out”.
“I might have to call out these companies that owe me millions. If you don’t have the money, say so and don’t try to tell me something else. I know how much revenue my brand has generated your brand. Check the contract, don’t even try it,” she wrote.
In the same vein back in 2018, Savage lamented about how hard it is to be a woman in Africa.
The award wining singer took to her Instagram story, indicating she is going through some hard times.
The mother of one in her post said she was tired of fighting and almost at the point of giving up.
On her Instagram, she wrote; “It’s a sin to be a woman in Africa.
“I feel like giving up, tired of fighting, tired of proving myself, tired of smiling.”
The scandals
Tiwaa Savage’s ‘romance’ with colleague, Wizkid has always been a subject matter that gets people talking.
TheNewsGuru recalls that in 2019 a video surfaced online in which Wizkid could be seen lightly spanking Tiwa Savage’s butt. Expectedly, the rumour mill went agog with several fans insisting that the relationship between both artistes was beyond platonic.
In the same vein, fans of the singer will not forget in a hurry what Savage said at ‘Everything Tiwa Savage,’a concert organised by Flytime, at the Eko Hotels, Lagos in 2019.
The two music superstars, in what appeared to be another display of their growing bond, stunned the crowd packed inside the hall with romantic display.
Before Wizkid’s appearance on stage, Tiwa had briefly commented on the relationship between the two.
“The last person I am going to introduce is special to me,” she announced, with the fans screaming Wizkid in return even before she mentioned his name.
“It’s not just any kind of relationship, it is a one-on-one relationship and I own him. I don’t care what people say about us.
“I might be older but the older the berry, the sweeter the juice.”
Teebillz’s expose on Tiwa Savage almost crashed her career in 2016.
Tee Billz put the word ‘promiscuity’ in a new light after his wife, Tiwa Savage, gave a full exposé on YouTube about his marital infidelity and general irresponsibility.
The revelation was provoked by TeeBillz’s meltdown on Instagram. The artiste manager had accused his wife of being a serial cheat and claimed that she often failed to perform her marital duties, e.g, cooking.
All in all, the sexy entertainer has managed to soar against all odds.