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Tiwa Savage is a British-Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress born on February 5, 1980. She was born in Isale Eko, Tiwa Savage move with her family to England for secondary school when she was 11 years old.
During the latter half of the ’90s, she established herself as a background vocalist, and opted to leave the accounting world when she was sought by Mary J. Blige. Though she had a business administration degree from Kent University, she furthered her music career by attending Berklee College of Music on scholarship. Prior to her graduation, she competed on The X Factor (U.K.) during series three and made it to the final 24. During the next couple years, Savage raised her stock with additional background work, such as an appearance on Whitney Houston’s I Look to You (2009), and the landing of songwriting credits on a handful of albums, including Fantasia’s Grammy-nominated Back to Me. Savage got a publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009 after performing on the UK edition of The X Factor and graduating from Berklee College of Music.
Savage returned to Nigeria in 2012, inspired by the developments of the Nigerian industry, and signed with Mavin Records.
On July 3rd, 2013, her debut studio album Once Upon a Time was released. Seven singles, Kele Kele Love, Love Me, Without My Heart, Ife Wa Gbona, Folarin, Olorun Mi, and Eminado, were released to accompany it. At the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, the album was nominated for Best Album of the Year, as well as Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2014. On December 19, 2015, Savage released his second studio album, R.E.D. “My Darlin” and “Standing Ovation” were two singles from the album. Roc Nation signed Savage to a management and publishing agreement in June 2016. Sugarcane, her debut EP, was released in September 2017. The Nigeria Entertainment Awards have nominated R.E.D and Sugarcane for Best Album.
Tiwa Savage was the first female Nigerian musician to receive a BET nomination in 2014. She also won the best female category at the Channel O music awards event the same year (2014). She was also nominated for the award in 2018. She was also nominated for the MTV European Music Award in 2014, which she went on to win in 2018.
In November 2018, Savage won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win the category. In May 2019, she announced her record deal with Universal Music Group and exit from Mavin Records. Savage sings in English and Yoruba; her music blend Afrobeats, R&B, pop, and hip-hop. Savage’s contributions to the Nigerian music industry have earned her several achievements. She has been involved in youth empowerment and breast cancer screening projects and has raised funds to build schools in Nigeria.
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Name: Tiwatope Savage
Born: 5 February 1980, Isale Eko, Lagos State, Nigeria
Education: University of Kent, Berklee College of Music
Occupations: Singeractress
Spouse : Tunji Balogun (married 2013; div. 2018)
Children: 1
Genree: Afrobeats, R&B, pop, hip hop, soul
Instrument(s): Vocals
Years active : 1996–present
Labels: 323, Universal, Motown, Capital, Island
TIWA SAVAGE EARLY LIFE & CAREER
Tiwatope Savage was born on 5 February 1980, in Isale Eko, Lagos State, Nigeria. Her family relocated to England (London) when she was 11 years old. While attending secondary school, she was a trombone player for her school’s orchestra band. Savage graduated with a degree in accounting from the University of Kent, and started working at The Royal Bank of Scotland. She did backup vocals for English singer George Michael at the age of 16, and lent vocals to other musicians such as Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Emma Bunton, Kelly Clarkson, Andrea Bocelli and Ms. Dynamite. Savage enrolled at Berklee College of Music and graduated with a degree in professional music in 2007. While reminiscing about her experiences there, she said she was motivated by the drive and passion of the younger students. She also said she needed the school’s atmosphere.
ONCE UPON A TIME ALBUM- 2010-2014
In 2010, Tiwa Savage began work on her debut studio album, Once Upon a Time. Tiwa returned to Nigeria in 2012, inspired by the growth of the Nigerian music industry, and signed with Mavin Records.
She signed with Mavin Records in 2012 and was featured on the label’s compilation album Solar Plexus as one of the lead artists. In 2012, Savage was included in a remix of “Oyi.” She produced her own version of the song before teaming with Flavour.
In May 2013, she hosted an album listening party at the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi. She presented the whole tracklist of the album and confirmed Iceberg Slim, Sarkodie, and General Pype as featured performers during the listening party. The album was released to the Nigerian public on July 3, 2013. It was available on iTunes a day before it was released in stores. Savage chose the title Once Upon a Time to reflect the pleasant aspects of her life. She stated that she wants to inspire other aspiring musicians by informing them that she was once a little girl from Isale Eko who aspired to be a star. At the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Once Upon a Time was nominated for Best Album of the Year. It was also nominated for The Headies 2014 for Best R&B/Pop Album.
For Valentine’s Day celebration , Tiwa Savage released the love song “Love in Yellow” on January 31, 2014. The song has a classic Rhythm and funk feel to it. Don Jazzy produced Reekado Bank’s 2014 track “Turn It Up,” which featured Savage. Mavin Records released “Dorobucci,” a song produced by Don Jazzy and featuring performances by Savage, Don Jazzy, Dr. SID, D’Prince, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, and Di’Ja, on May 1, 2014. Savage performed with Miguel, Flavour N’abania, Davido, Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Oskido, and others at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards on June 7, 2014.
In June 2014, She collaborated on “Africa Rising,” a song for DStv’s campaign featuring Mi Casa, Lola Rae, Sarkodie, Diamond Platnumz, and Davido. The goal of the campaign was to encourage Africans to participate in community-based social investment initiatives. Callback Dreams, a South African production firm, filmed and directed the music video for “Africa Rising.” The song was performed at the Africa Rising launch ceremony in Mauritius by the musicians.
R.E.D ALBUM 2015-2016
On 19 December 2015, Savage released her second studio album R.E.D, which is an acronym for Romance, Expression and Dance. The album features guest appearances from Don Jazzy, Olamide, Dr SID, Iceberg Slim, 2face Idibia, D’Prince, Busy Signal and Reekado Banks. It was primarily produced by Don Jazzy, with additional production from Baby Fresh, Altims, Spellz and P2J. The album was supported by two singles: “My Darlin” and “Standing Ovation”. Its deluxe edition was released in February 2016 and features guest vocals from Wizkid and P-Square. R.E.D was nominated for Best Album at the 2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Savage recorded the album while pregnant with her son. The album was made available for free digital streaming on MTN Music on 21 December 2015. Within 24 hours of its release, it became the music platform’s most-streamed album. The album was promoted through the website i-am-red.com.
In June 2016, there were reports in the media that Savage had signed a management and publishing deal with Roc Nation. On 29 July 2016, she made it official by announcing the deal through her Instagram account, making her the first Nigerian artist to be signed to the label.
SUGARCANE ALBUM – 2017 TILL DATE
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Savage performed on the Liberty Stage of Jay Z’s Made in America Festival. During her performance, she brought out Young Paris for a performance of “Best of Me” (Remix). Savage released her debut EP Sugarcane on 22 September 2017. It features collaborations with producers and guest artists such as Wizkid, Spellz, Baby Fresh, Maleek Berry and P2J. It explores themes of love and was recorded in English and Yoruba. Sugarcane was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Savage revealed to The Fader magazine that she did not have any plans to release the EP, but decided to put out the project after recording so much music for her upcoming album. Sugarcane is a mixture of Afropop, funk, house, pop music, R&B and trap.
On 24 August 2018, Savage headlined a concert at The O2’s Indigo venue. General admission tickets sold out hours before the event. The concert featured additional performances from Don Jazzy, Reekado Banks, Di’Ja, Dr SID, WSTRN, Awilo Longomba, Mystro and the Alternate Sound Band. Prior to the concert, Savage held a pop-up shop on Berwick Street.
In November 2018, Savage won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win the category. Savage released the melodic track “One” on 15 November 2018. Produced by Killer Tunez, it touches upon themes of gratitude. Akinpelu Oluwafunmilayo for Legit.ng described the song as an “Afrobeat song with a soft tempo and smooth rhythmical flow”. On 2 December 2018, Savage performed at the 2018 Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which took place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. News about her performance at the festival was first reported in July 2018.
The video for “One” was released on 7 December 2018. Directed by Clarence Peters, it was shot at a local beach in Osoroko, Lagos Nigeria. In January 2019, YouTube took down the video for “One” following an accusation of copyright violations.[58] Due to not being able to verify a copyright violation, YouTube restored the video on 2 March 2019.
On 13 March, Savage was added to the lineup of artists who performed at the 2019 Wireless Festival. On 2 May 2019, Universal Music Group announced the signing of Savage to a seven-year publishing and distribution deal. It was also revealed that she left Mavin Records. Efe Ogbeni of Regime Music Societe and Vannessa Amadi-Ogbonna will be responsible for executive producing all of her projects under the label. Savage’s future music will be released through the label’s operations in more than 60 countries.
In July 2019, Savage was featured on “Keys to the Kingdom”, a track she co-wrote for Beyoncé’s soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift. She appeared on the track alongside Mr Eazi.
On 5 September 2019, Savage released “49-99”, her first single with Motown Records. The song references the line “49 sitting, 99 standing” from Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s 1978 hit “Shuffering and Shmiling”. Described as a blend of Afrobeat, R&B and pop music, “49-99” features syncopated percussion, humming background harmonies and crisp snares. The Meji Alabi-directed video for “49-99” features colorful imagery and symbolism. 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 laid out with lengthy braids, is reminiscent of Diana Ross’ flower-accented look from the late 1960s.
On 19 November 2019, Savage released the Black Jheerze-produced track “Attention” and the Pheelz-produced track “Owo Mi Da”. In “Attention”, she admonishes her love interest for the lack of attention he is putting into their relationship while in “Owo Mi Da”, she makes cut throat remarks at an unnamed borrower. Savage performed background vocals on “Èkó”, a slow-burning ballad from Coldplay’s eighth studio album Everyday Life (2019). On 18 August 2020, Tiwa Savage released the track list for the album Celia, and announced that the album will be released on 28 August 2020.[
TIWA SAVAGE PERSONAL LIFE
Tunji Balogun got married to Tiwa Savage in a traditional ceremony at the Ark in Lekki on November 23, 2013. On April 26, 2014, the pair married in a white ceremony at the Armani Hotel in Dubai. Savage and Balogun revealed they were expecting their first child together on January 1, 2015.
Savage gave birth to their baby six months later. Balogun accused his wife of adultery and his mother-in-law of witchcraft on April 28, 2016. She later refuted her husband’s claims of adultery, accusing him of financial irresponsibility, drug addiction, and abandonment. She stated that she and Tunji were no longer married.
On July 19, 2021, Tiwa’s father died after a long battle with an unidentified disease.
Savage revealed in an interview on October 8, 2021, that someone was attempting to extort and blackmail her with a leaked sex tape of her and her boyfriend; later, on October 19, 2021, the contents of the sex tape were revealed to be vaginal intercourse with Savage being a party to it and the male partner’s identity unknown.
The sex tape issue has elicited mixed reactions, with some fans claiming that the leaked footage was merely a marketing gimmick. While the majority of fans and public figures have reacted negatively to Savage’s sex video incident, other celebrities, like Mercy Aigbe, Harrysong, and others, have resorted to social media to express their support for her. She later proceeded to Instagram to post a cryptic message that said, “Change that sh*t to the game and never talk about it again,” implying that supporters should disregard what they had seen.
TIWA SAVAGE AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2021 Net Honours Most Popular Musician – Nominated
Most Searched Musician (female) – Nominated
MTV Africa Music Awards Best Female Act – Nominated
Artist of the Year – Nominated
Listener’s Choice – Nominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding International Song – Nominated
2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Best Female MVP – Nominated
Viewers’ Choice – Nominated
African Video of the year – Won
African Artiste Of the year – Nominated
2019 AFRIMA Best Female West Africa – Won
2018 Best Female West Africa – Won
MTV Europe Music Awards Best African Act – Won
Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) Afropop Female Artist – Nominated
2017 AFRIMA Best Female West Africa – Won
2016 WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards African Video of the Year – Nominated
Best African Female Video – Nominated
Best West African Video – Nominated
Best African Performance – Nominated
2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards African Artiste of the Year – Nominated
City People Awards Artiste of the Year(Female) – Nominated
COSON Song Awards Best Love Song – Nominated
Best Collabo Song – Won
2014 ELOY Awards Best Female Artist – Nominated
Best Brand Ambassador – Nominated
The Headies 2014 Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year – Nominated
Artiste of the Year – Nominated
Best Vocal Performance (Female) – Nominated
Best R&B/Pop Album – Nominated
Best Collabo – Nominated
Best Reggae/Dancehall Single – Won
Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Female – Won
Most Gifted Video of the Year – Nominated
MOBO Awards Best African Act – Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Female Artist of the Year – Won
Best Pop/R&B Artist of the Year – Won
Best Album of the Year – Nominated
Hottest Single of the Year – Nominatef
Best Music Video of the Year (Artist & Director) – Nominated
Best African Female Video – Nominated
Best West African Video – Nominated
Best African Performance – Nominated
2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards African Artiste of the Year – Nominated
City People Awards Artiste of the Year(Female) – Nominated
COSON Song Awards Best Love Song – Nominated
Best Collabo Song – Won
2014 ELOY Awards Best Female Artist – Nominated
Best Brand Ambassador – Nominated
The Headies 2014 Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year – Nominated
Artiste of the Year – Nominated
Best Vocal Performance (Female) – Nominated
Best R&B/Pop Album – Nominated
Best Collabo – Nominated
Best Reggae/Dancehall Single – Won
Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Female – Won
Most Gifted Video of the Year – Nominated
MOBO Awards Best African Act – Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Female Artist of the Year – Won
Best Pop/R&B Artist of the Year – Won
Best Album of the Year – Nominated
Hottest Single of the Year – Nominated
Best Music Video of the Year (Artist & Director) – Nominated
African Muzik Magazine Awards Best Female West Africa – Won
City People Entertainment Awards Musician of The Year (Female) – Won
BET Awards 2014 Best International Act: Africa – Nominated
MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 Best Female – Won
World Music Awards World’s Best Song – Nominated
World’s Best Video – Nominated
World’s Best Female Artist – Nominated
World’s Best Live Act – Nominated
World’s Best Entertainer of the Year – Nominated
2013 Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) Best Use of Costumes – Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Collabo – Nominated
Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Female Video – Nominated
4Syte TV Music Video Awards Best African Act Video – Nominated
MOBO Awards Best African Act – Nominated
City People Entertainment Awards Musician of the Year (Female) – Nominated
Best Collabo of the Year Nominated
2012 Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) Best Use of Costumes – Nominated
Best Highlife – Won
Best Indigenous Concept – Nominated
Video of the Year – Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best New Act of the Year – Nominated
Best Pop/R&B Artist of the Year – Nominated
The Headies Best Vocal Performance (Female) – Won
Best R ‘N’ B Single – Nominated
Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted R&B Music Video of the Year – Won
2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best New Act of the Year – Nominated
Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) Best Use of Choreography – Nominated
City People Entertainment Awards Female Musician of the Year – Won
Afrotainment Museke Online Music Awards Best R&B Soul Song – Won
FAB Magazine Awards Most Stylish Female Artiste Won
Dynamix All Youth Awards Most Promising Act Won
Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Female Video – Nominated
Tush Youth Awards Female Musician of the Year – Nominated
Song of the Year – Nominated
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The Headies Next Rated – Nominated
2010 Dynamix All Youth Awards Promising Artiste of the Year – Nominated
TIWA SAVAGE ENDORSEMENT
In July 2013, Savage earned a 30-million-naira endorsement deal with MTN Nigeria. She also signed endorsement deals with Pepsi, Forte Oil, and Maggi.
Savage signed a management and publishing deal with Roc Nation in June 2016, according to rumors in the media. She made it official on July 29, 2016, when she announced the deal on her Instagram account, making her the first Nigerian artist to be signed to the company.
TIWA SAVAGE NET WORTH
Tiwa Savage is not only one of the greatest names in the Nigerian music industry, but she is also one of the richest. According to Forbes, Tiwa Savage is the richest female singer in Nigeria, with a net worth of $9 million.
