Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has revealed the tough road she faced as a young artist trying to break into the Nigerian music industry, detailing her early struggles with image, rejection, and industry backlash.
Tiwa opened up about how her journey into stardom wasn’t just about talent but navigating societal expectations and reshaping her identity.
“I used to be a songwriter in the studio wearing baggy jeans and a t-shirt. And he [her former label head, Tunji ‘TJ’ Balogun] literally changed that.”
Tiwa Savage
She explained that TJ had a bold vision for her image and encouraged her to step into a more glamorous, edgy look. “He was just like, let’s give them the African Rihanna or Beyoncé. I was like, okay, let’s go ahead,” she said.
According to her, the transformation was met with sharp criticism when she returned to Nigeria. “My fashion sense attracted criticism. Then, I ran back to L.A.,” Tiwa Savage said.
She shared how performance opportunities were sometimes blocked because of how she dressed.
“I was really bad. I would go to shows and I would be waiting backstage and they wouldn’t call me because maybe the governor’s wife had said I can’t come up or they’d say, ‘Make sure you don’t wear any of those your skimpy dresses.’ I’m not making this up.”
Tiwa Savage
The backlash extended to her music as well. “There was a time, ‘Love Me’ was banned on TV. I was discouraged,” she admitted.
Despite the resistance, a pivotal call from her longtime manager, Bizzle, gave her the push she needed.
However, her return wasn’t met with open arms. Tiwa Savage revealed that she was turned away by all the major labels at the time.
“I’ve told the story where I went to all the labels and they all said no—Storm Records, Mo’Hits, Banky W’s EME, everyone.”
Tiwa Savage
Now regarded as one of Africa’s most influential female artists, Tiwa Savage’s story is a reminder of the rejection and judgment many women face when they challenge industry norms and societal expectations.
Tiwa Savage on ‘Wanted’ Video, Industry Pressures
The Afrobeats star opened up about the bold and controversial visuals in her 2014 music video ‘Wanted’, describing it as a moment of rebellion sparked by public doubts about her relevance and desirability after marriage.
The Nigerian singer revealed that at the time, the media was quick to dismiss her because of her new marital status.
“The sexiness in my 2014 single ‘Wanted’ music video felt groundbreaking at that time. Because I just got married and there’s a lot of press saying, ‘She’s not going to be desirable anymore. She’s finished. Her time is gone. There are new people on the scene.’”
Tiwa Savage
She explained that the decision to go in that direction with the visuals was her way of pushing back against those narratives.
“So, I was just like, let me do something crazy. That was me being rebellious. I was like, Oh! You guys think I’m not sexy anymore?”
Tiwa Savage
Tiwa went on to clarify that trying to appear sexy wasn’t her natural inclination. “To be honest, that wasn’t the aim—to just try to be sexy. Because naturally, I’m not. Naturally, I’m a tomboy,” she admitted.
She also credited music executive Tunji Balogun, known as TJ, for playing a significant role in reshaping her image to fit a market gap he had identified.
“TJ saw that there was a gap in the market and he was just like, you’ve to lose weight, you’ve to go to the gym, you’ve to start waxing your eyebrows. You’ve got to start wearing wigs. He literally changed my whole appearance. I was not like that in L.A. when he met me.”
Tiwa Savage
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