Tiwa Savage became 40 on February 5th is arguably one of Nigerian and African biggest and flamboyant musical stars and particularly the biggest female music export from Nigeria to the rest of the world.
Singer, songwriter and actress, Tiwatope Savage was born in Isale Eko, she relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education. She started music in London as a trombone player for her school’s orchestra band.
Five years later, she began her music career doing backup vocals for artists such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige.
Education and career:
Tiwa Savage studied accounting at the University of Kent at the advice of her parents. After graduation she worked with the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Her inner creativity took the better of her while on the banking job, and so she resigned to launch her music career by working as backup vocals for the likes of George Michaels, Andrea Bocelli, Mary J. Blige etc.
Tiwa Savage went further to develop her musical career by enrolling at the Berklee College of Music graduating in 2007 where she bagged a degree in professional music. The self-acclaimed African bad girl of music got her big break in 2009 at the age of 29 when she signed a deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
Leap of Faith: From UK to Nigeria:
Tiwa took the plunge when she left the certainty in the UK for Nigeria in 2012. The move brought a breakthrough to her career as she was soon discovered by by Collins Ajereh a.k.a Don Jazzy who signed her to his Mavin Records label. She was known as the Mavin Records First Lady and released a couple of hit songs most notably ‘kele kele move’, ‘Eminado’, ‘Love me’, ‘Without my heart’, ‘Ife wa gbona’, ‘Olorun mi’, ‘Folarin’, etc.
Marital Low:
However, Tiwa’s success in music has not translated into success in marriage. In 2014, she married her former manager, Tunji Balogun. The couple was blessed with– Jamil. Unfortunately, the marriage did not last long because of accusation of multiple sexual affairs with her producer Don Jazzy, Dr. Sid and Two Baba- Tu Face.
Tiwa and the Kid:
Recently, social media was agog as rumour trended that Tiwa Savage was in relationship a ten years younger Ayodeji Balogun a.k.a Wizkid. Neither Tiwa nor Wizkid denied the rumours.
The rewards and awards:
Notwithstanding the low sides of her life, Tiwa Savage has had a lot of highs and great moments in her over 10 years career since she returned to Nigeria from the UK.
She had songwriting credits to her success writing songs for a number of albums, including Fantasia’s Grammy-nominated Back to Me. In 2019, she did a collaboration with Beyonce on her hit ‘The Lion King: The Gift’ which also featured Mr. Eazi. She later signed up to Universal Music Group in 2019 and has continued to hold the music industry spell bound with her hit songs.
Tiwa Savage’s achievements in music have also been recognised by many awards some of which include;
2014, Nigeria Entertainment Award for Female Artist of the Year
MTV Africa Music Award for Best Female, 2014
MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act
2018
City People Music Award for Music Artist of the Year (Female)
2017, 2014
City People Music Award for Best Collabo of the Year
2018
The Headies Award for Best Collabo, 2018
Happy birthday to the lady of song, the self-acclaimed African bad girl of music as she continues to make great music making Nigeria and Africa proud.
