Tiwa Savage / Musician

This African super star was born on the 5th of February ,1980.I just want you all to know that Her birth name is actually Tiwatope Savage-Balogun.but Savage sounds so cool. Born in Nigeria, she began her music career as a trombone player in her school orchestra after her family moved to London when she was at the age in 11 ( disclaimer, I played the trombone as my first instrument. tehee). She studied Business administration at the University of Kent. Though she has a good career in the business sector in the UK, she has had a lot of experience in the music industry. She started off with being a backup vocalist for the likes of George Michael, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan ​(wow, thinking about, “I’m every woman by Whitney Houston”)​, and believe it or not, Kelly Clarkson, though she might have only been a back up -I’m feeling like she should’ve entered Idols instead of being back up for one ​(But Baby steps I guess)​. And you could believe it or not ( I’ll drop some youtube videos), she’s performed with Sting ​(who has private concerts for super rich people, but that’s a story for another time)​, The Black Eyed Peas, Eminem and DESTINY'S CHILD. YAAAS.

So, her formal music career started at Berklee Music College ​(which is a dream for many music students shem)​. Even me someday. She has said that she has had a tough time with the transition from being a backup vocalist, to being the centre of attention. But with the wins that she’s had in Africa and the ones she’s contributed to globally, it would make sense that this was the role that she may have been destined for. Luckily, her business background has assisted in preventing her from being scammed by other musicians​ ​and​ ​larger​ ​music​ ​companies​ ​that​ ​she​ ​worked​ ​for​ ​as​ ​a​ ​writer.

Her big break came after participating in the UK edition of the X factor and making the top 24. Though she didn’t get to the top 12, it does not matter because she carried on with her dream and was recently signed onto Roc nation. ​YAAAAS. I’m talking about the Jay Z’s nation, the husband of Beyonce. The one that cheated on our Queen and wrote “The story of O.J”, ​( which I feel is the greatest song on there. But ya, men are trash)​. But listen !! All was not lost, because it turns out that she was chosen to become the co-host of Nigerian Idols in 2011. She debuted Joke Silva and Ireti. But be wary, she has written hits before. I’m talking about Kat Deluna’s “Push Push” that featured Akon and David Guetta. And the omelette du fromage ​(I’m still working on my French vocabulary)​, She featured as a background vocalist for Whitney’s “ I Look​ ​to​ ​You”,​ ​in​ ​2009.​ ​​ ​And​ ​on​ ​top​ ​of​ ​all​ ​of​ ​that,​ ​she​ ​signed​ ​a​ ​deal​ ​as​ ​an​ ​endorser​ ​of​ ​Pepsi.

The​ ​Nigerian​ ​music​ ​industry.

Being a woman in a highly male dominated industry is so fucking difficult. Especially in the music industry. After discouragement from her home country, she still didn’t give a shit. The hostility she faced was from how she wanted to portray her sexuality as her own. And why not show it as her own as many male musicians were able to exploit video vixens for their sex appeal. So why not use herself as her own sex appeal as she wanted. The fragility was real. So I’ll leave it to you to see how many awards she has been nominated for and would like you to vote on whether she should have won more awards, or whether she got enough. Though honestly, we all know the things. She has listed her inspirations as the ladies​ ​that​ ​danced​ ​for​ ​Fela​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​energy​ ​that​ ​they​ ​had​ ​on​ ​stage.

And this is a short intro to Tiwa Savage. Though I did look for facts. If you want me to go more in depth with the nigerian music scene ​(I mean as in unpack and dissect) drop an email: ​womxnos@gmail.com ​, and I’ll​ ​do​ ​all​ ​the​ ​work​ ​for​ ​you!​ ​We​ ​may​ ​even​ ​make​ ​a​ ​video​ ​for​ ​you​ ​to​ ​watch​ ​later.