In May 2023, at Windsor Castle, a Nigerian singer performed at the concert celebrating the coronation of King Charles III. For Tiwa Savage, it was a long way from backing vocals in London studios.
Tiwatope Savage was born in Lagos in 1980 and moved to London with her family at 11. As a young woman she worked as a backing singer, performing with artists including George Michael and Mary J. Blige. In 2006, she appeared on the British talent show The X Factor.
Berklee
Savage studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating with a degree in music. In the United States, she worked as a songwriter and signed a publishing deal, writing songs for other artists.
Back to Lagos
Around 2010, she returned to Nigeria to build her own career as an artist. Her early singles, including “Kele Kele Love”, made her one of the most promising voices in Nigerian pop. In 2012, she joined Don Jazzy’s new label, Mavin Records, and became its first lady.
Hits followed: “Eminado”, “Wanted”, “All Over”, “Koroba” and “Somebody’s Son” with Brandy. Her albums Once Upon a Time, R.E.D and Celia built her reputation as the leading woman in Afrobeats.
International
In 2016, she signed a management and publishing deal with Roc Nation, and in 2019 a recording deal with Universal Music Group. She has performed at major festivals and collaborated with artists from Nigeria and abroad.
The coronation
At the coronation concert in May 2023, Savage performed “Keep On Moving” with the orchestra, becoming one of the few African artists to feature. Some Nigerians criticised her participation, given Britain’s colonial history; she defended it as an honour and a chance to represent Africa.
Acting
In 2024, she starred in and produced the film Water and Garri, released on Prime Video, a drama about a woman returning home to Nigeria.
Personal life
Savage has a son from her marriage to Tunji “Teebillz” Balogun, which ended in divorce. She has spoken publicly about difficult episodes in her life, including a privacy violation in 2021, and about the pressures women face in the music industry.
Legacy
Savage showed that a woman could headline in a male-dominated Nigerian music industry and build a global career.
She once sang harmonies behind other people’s names. Now younger Nigerian singers name her as the reason they believed a woman could lead.
