Her real name is Tiwatope Savage, but professionally known as Tiwa Savage. She is a singer, songwriter, and actress. Tiwa savage came to limelight after she dropped Kele Kele Love, a song that burst all the speakers, in and outside Lagos. She received her very first award from City People, and also performed Kele Kele love song at the City People Fashion award, years back. She was Born in Isale Eko. She went to London at the age of 11 to pursue a secondary education. Five years later, she began her music career doing backup vocals for artistes such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige.
After participating in the UK edition of The X Factor and graduating from Berklee College of Music, Tiwa signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009. Inspired by the growth of the Nigerian music industry, Tiwa Savage moved back to Lagos and signed with Mavin Records in 2012.She made an appearance on the label’s compilation album Solar Plexus, released the same year. In December 2011, She co-hosted the second season of Nigerian Idol with IllRymz. she also made a film with Joke Silva and Ireti Doyle tagged 4 Coloured Girls. She became the first African female act to be associated with the Pepsi brand after signing an endorsement deal with them. she established the 323 Entertainment record label with her ex-Manager and husband “Tee Billz” (Tunji Ibrahim Balogun), whom she got engaged to in February 2013.
She joined Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records in 2012 and was one of the lead acts on the label’s compiling album’ Solar Plexus’ While attending Berklee College of Music, she meet people with several of the school’s graduates, including Keith Harris, Derek Pate, Scott Coleman, Radar Ellis, and Darien Dorsey. In an interview with Brenda Pike, she said she collaborated with producers Chuck Harmony, Warren “Oak” Felder, and Sossick, among others. During that interview was when she revealed her debut studio album will include records in her native tongue. She was featured on the remix of Flavour N’abania’s “Oyi” in 2012. Prior to collaborating with Flavour, she recorded her own version of the song. She then released her debut studio album Once Upon a Time which was released on the 3rd of July 2013.
It was supported by seven singles: “Kele Kele Love”, “Love Me (3x)”, “Without My Heart”, “Ife Wa Gbona”, “Folarin”, “Olorun Mi” and “Eminado”. Tiwa’s second studio album R.E.D was released on 19th of December 2015. Before then On the 1st of May 2014, Mavin Records released the Don Jazzy-produced “Dorobucci”, featuring Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, Dr SID, D’Prince, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello and Di’Ja.
The song is the record label’s first collaboration release since the release of the 2012 compilation album Solar Plexus. The R.E.D yielded two singles: “My Darlin” and “Standing Ovation”. She also got featured on a song with Patoranking titled ‘Girle O’. In June 2016, Savage signed a management and publishing deal with Roc Nation and broke the record of being the first artiste to be signed on there. In September 2017, she released her debut EP Sugarcane. It was also supported by two singles: “All Over” and “Ma Lo”. Tiwa sings very well in English and Yoruba. On the 24th of August 2018, Savage headlined a concert at The O2’s Indigo venue. General admission tickets sold out hours before the event. The concert featured performances from Don Jazzy, Reekado Banks, Di’Ja, Dr SID, WSTRN, Awilo Longomba, Mystro, and the Alternate Sound Band. Earlier before the concert, she held a pop-up shop on Berwick Street. In November 2018, She won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win that category.
She released the sweet track “One” on 15 November 2018 which was Produced by Killer Tunez, it song is one song that makes you feel so much gratitude. Most people described the song as an “Afrobeat song with a soft tempo and smooth rhythmical flow which it really is On the 2nd of December 2018, Savage performed at the 2018 Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which took place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was already everywhere in the news and social media about her performance at the festival since July. The video for “One” was released on 7th of December 2018. Which was Directed by Clarence Peters, it was shot at a local beach in Osoroko. In January 2019, YouTube deleted the video for “One” because of the many accusations of copyright theft. Due to not being able to discover the copyright theft leveled against Tiwa Savage, YouTube had no choice than restoring the video on the 2 of March 2019.
Her contribution to the Nigerian Music Industry has earned her several achievements, including the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act. In May 2019, she announced her record deal with Universal Music Group, a 7-year publishing and distribution deal and exit from Mavin Records even though Don jazzy said she was still part of the Mavins that no one was ever going to wear her Jersey. Efe Ogbeni of Regime Music Societe and Vannessa Amadi-Ogbonna are now responsible for executive producing all of her projects under the label. Tiwa’s music are now being released through the label’s operations in more than 60 countries. In July 2019. She was featured on “Keys to the Kingdom”, a track she co-wrote for Beyoncé’s soundtrack album The Lion King The Gift. She is on the track with Mr Eazi. On the 5th of September 2019, Tiwa, released “49-99”, this song happens to be her first single with Motown Records. The song places the line “49 sitting, 99 standing” from Fela Kuti’s 1978 hit “Shuffering and Shmiling”. Which is said to be a blend of Afrobeat, R&B and pop, “49-99” features played bass beat, humming background concords and crispy snares. The video was directed by Meji Alabi in Lagos which features colorful imagery and representation. One of the video’s scenes references the iconic portraits of Congolese schoolgirls taken in 1972 by photographer Eliot Elisofon. Another scene in which Savage is set out with lengthy braids is reminiscent of Diana Ross’ flower-accented look from the late 60s. she has premiered this single in America then she came down to Lagos on the 17th of September to premiere it at Obalende, the turn up of crowd was just something that could never beat. Tiwa has created a niche for herself in the industry as we speak, their is no one in Nigeria that can beat her glory.
–Precious Pomaa
