British R&B sensation, Craig David has confessed his admiration for Nigerian songstress, Tiwa Savage, hailing her as an exceptional vocalist and a leading force in Afrobeats.
In a recent interview, David revealed his long-standing fandom for Tiwa Savage, expressing his thrill at collaborating with her on his latest single.
David recounted the moment his team suggested featuring Tiwa Savage on the track, describing it as a “great idea.”
To his surprise, Tiwa Savage responded with enthusiasm, expressing her willingness to collaborate.
“I have been a big fan of Tiwa for years. When it comes to Afrobeats, she has been holding it down for so long. She is not just consistent; she is also an amazing vocalist. We were all in the studio, brainstorming, and someone said, ‘What about Tiwa Savage?’ I was like, ‘What about Tiwa? That is a great idea!’ So, we reached out to her, not knowing if she would be interested or if we would just get ignored. But she came back so graciously.
“She said, ‘Even if the song was not that great, I still would have jumped on it. ’ That is when I knew this was love. She got on the track, and the next thing you know, we had this amazing song that perfectly blended our worlds. It went from fire emojis to voice notes. The way her ad-libs hit? It was next-level. We were both gassed.”
Craig David
David’s admiration for Tiwa Savage extends beyond their musical collaboration.
He praised her graciousness, talent, and humility, describing her as “everything I could’ve imagined and more” upon meeting her.
“Meeting her for the first time was everything I could have imagined and more. She is so gracious, and her talent is just insane. She is like, ‘Yeah, it’s good stuff,’ and I’m like, ‘No, you’re the good stuff!’”
Craig David
Tiwa Savage on Signing New Artists
The Nigerian music icon admitted she has no plans to sign an artist under her wing, citing the stress that comes with managing talents.
However, she expressed her desire to support upcoming musicians in a different way—by creating a music school.
“Everyone always says to me, ‘When are you going to sign an artist?’ I don’t think I have the gift to sign another artist because artists are stressful… I could just be sleeping, and then I will wake up, and my artist is trending for something else.
“I do have the gift to help, which is why I am trying to do the music school, where you can go and later sign to a label that can actually help you.”
Tiwa Savage
Beyond personal success, Tiwa Savage highlighted the need for African artists to take control of their art and industry. “We need to own our art, our publishing, our labels,” she stated. “We need to tell our own stories.”
The music icon also cautioned emerging artists against rushing to fame, emphasizing the importance of building a strong foundation before reaching the pinnacle of their careers.
The award-winning singer shared insights on the pressures of success and the need for ownership in the music industry. “Cherish the beginning,” she advised.
“A lot of artists rush to the top, but once you are there, you face pressures — streams, concerts, obligations. When you start, you are free to create without limitations. Build a strong foundation, so when opinions come at you, you do not lose yourself.”
Tiwa Savage
She also challenged the notion of seeking validation from foreign markets, urging industry stakeholders to focus on building a self-sufficient music ecosystem.
“Why are we trying to break into another market? We should build our own to be the one others try to break into. If we had the right infrastructure, affordable data, and investment, we would not have to chase validation elsewhere.”
Tiwa Savage
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