Tiwa Savage Biography: Early Life, Career, Songs, Album, Husband, Net Worth

Tiwa Savage is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, entertainer, recording artist, stage performer, and actor. She is regarded as the most powerful female musician in Nigeria right now, as well as one of Africa’s best exports to the world. She is one of Nigeria’s richest musicians right now. Tiwa Savage continues to forge ahead in the entertainment world, serving as an inspiration to many ladies who wish to pursue a music career.

In 2009, she was signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing, one of the world’s top music brands, before moving on to Mavin Records, owned by renowned Nigerian music producer Don Jazzy, in 2012. In 2019, she signed with Universal Music Group, a top international music label. In November 2018, Savage became the first woman to win Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards.

In May 2019, she announced her record deal with Universal Music Group and her departure from Mavin Records. Savage’s third studio album, Celia, featured the singles “Attention,” “Dangerous Love,” “Koroba,” and “Temptation.” Her second extended play, Water & Garri, combines Afrobeat and soulful R&B. In March 2022, Savage announced the Water & Garri North American Tour to support the EP. Her fourth studio album, This One Is Personal, was released in August 2025.

Tiwa Savage Biography

Tiwa Savage was born on February 5, 1980, in Isale Eko, Lagos Metropolitan Area, Lagos State, Nigeria, where she lived until the age of 11, when she relocated to the United Kingdom with her parents. While attending secondary school in London, she learnt to play the trombone and became an important member of her school’s symphonic band.

She is an accountant who studied accounting and graduated from the University of Kent before beginning her career at The Royal Bank of Scotland. Tiwa Savage continued her education by enrolling at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she earned a degree in professional music in 2007.

Career

She began her music career as a backup singer for English singer George Michael at the age of 16, and has since lent vocals to Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Emma Bunton, Kelly Clarkson, Andrea Bocelli, and Ms Dynamite. Tiwa Savage competed in the UK season of The X Factor in 2006, making it to the final 24, but she was eliminated as the 12th contestant.  Following this, she moved to the United States, where she could grow up and experience a multicultural environment.

Tiwa Savage and Sony/ATV Music Publishing struck a record agreement in 2009. The deal increased her exposure in the American music industry, allowing her to create songs for prominent artists including Babyface, Kat Deluna, Fantasia Barrino, Monica, and Mýa. When her contract with Sony/ATV Music Publishing expired, she returned to Nigeria to help grow the country’s rapidly expanding music and entertainment industries.

When she returned to Nigeria, she faced fierce competition in the music industry, which was controlled by men. The Nigerian music scene provided her with more opportunities to shine than the United States, but because her initial entry into the local music scene was made without the incorporation of local pidgin and vernacular languages, she struggled to break through and massively flopped on her first stage performance.

Despite her initial challenges in Nigeria, she gradually but steadily warmed the hearts of Nigerians and became a major fan favourite over time. Tiwa corrected and improved her lyrics and accent and began to use her home language in her songs, which made many Nigerians love her even more. She eventually started her own record company, 323 Entertainment, with her former manager and estranged husband, Tunji “Tee Billz” Balogun.

She joined Mavin Records in 2012 after her record label partnered with Don Jazzy’s brand. Her debut track, Kele Kele Love, was an instant hit when it was released in 2013, topping most major music charts in Nigeria. She then released her long-awaited debut album, Once Upon a Time. Under Mavin Records, she released many songs with the Mavin crew, the most notable of which was Dorobucci, which was favourably accepted by practically every Nigerian and gained extensive airplay.

Savage revealed on Instagram in February 2023 that she and Meji Alabi will co-produce the film Water and Garri. The film’s title was inspired by Savage’s second extended play, Water and Garri. Savage co-produces the picture alongside Alabi and plays the primary part. The film was shot in Cape Coast, Ghana, and stars Mike Afolarin, Andrew Bunting, and Jemima Osunde in supporting roles.

Savage created and performed the film’s original music, and he and Vannessa Amadi-Ogbonna acted as executive producers together. The film tells the narrative of Aisha, a U.S.-based fashion designer who returns to her birthplace to confront her past guilt.

Savage sang in King Charles III’s Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on May 7, 2023, wearing a special Lanre da Silva gown that reflected her Nigerian roots. Savage’s performance was praised; however, her attendance at the event was met with criticism on social media due to the United Kingdom’s colonial history in Nigeria.

Savage appeared on Craig David’s single “Commitment” on February 26, 2025, which debuted and peaked at number 51 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart. On August 29, 2025, Savage released her fourth studio album, This One Is Personal. Empire Distribution released the album, which includes 15 tracks. Mystro produced the lead song, “You 4 Me,” which features a sample from Tamia’s 1998 single “So Into You.”

Discography

Studio albums

• Once Upon a Time (2013)
• R.E.D (2015)
• Celia (2020)
• This One Is Personal (2025)

EPs

• Sugarcane (2017)
• Water & Garri (2021)

Singles

• Somebody’s Son (2021)
• Work Fada (2021)
• Tales by Moonlight (2021)
• Special Kinda (2021)
• Chief (2021)
• Koroba (2020)
• Dangerous Love (2020)
• Park Well (2020)
• Ole (2020)
• 49-99 (2019)
• Ello Baby (2019)
• Attention (2019)
• Shotan (2019)
• Keys to the Kingdom (2019)
• Owo mi Da (2019)
• Diet (2018)
• One (2018)
• Tiwa’s Vibe (2018)
• Lova Lova (2018)
• All Over (2017)
• Ma Lo (2017)
• Get It Now (2017)
• Sugarcane (2017)
• Adura (2015)
• Go Down (2015)
• My Darlin (2015)
• Standing Ovation (2015)
• Kolobi (2015)
• Birthday (2015)
• Key to the City Remix (2015)
• Say It (2015)
• Go Down (2015)
• If I Start To Talk (2015)
• Adura (2015)
• Key to the City (2014)
• Kele Kele Love (2013)
• Eminado (2013)
• Without My Heart (2013)
• Ife Wa Gbona (2013)
• Wanted (2013)
• Folarin (2013).

Tiwa Savage has done some collaborations as well. She appeared on Reekado Banks‘ hit Turn It Up, which was produced by Don Jazzy. While she was still with Mavin Records, she worked with the Mavins All Stars on the popular single “Dorobucci”, which was released on May 1, 2014. Tiwa Savage collaborated with Mi Casa, Lola Rae, Sarkodie, Diamond Platnumz, and Davido on a song for DSTV’s Africa Rising campaign, which encouraged Africans to engage in community-based projects.

Tiwa performed at the 2014 MTV Music Awards alongside Miguel, Flavour, Davido, Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Oskido, and Professor. She also appeared in Flavour’s song Oyi (Remix), which won the Channel O Music Video Awards as the Most Gifted R&B Music Video of the Year.

Feud with Seyi Shay and leaked video

On June 8, 2021, Savage had a verbal exchange with Seyi Shay at a saloon in Lekki, Lagos. According to the Premium Times newspaper, Seyi Shay released a diss track in 2017 that called Savage many nasty names.

In October 2021, Savage told Angie Martinez of Power 105.1 that she had been blackmailed over a leaked video of herself and her partner having sex. Savage’s partner unintentionally shared the footage on Snapchat and removed it nearly immediately. However, someone grabbed the footage before it was removed and threatened to release it if they weren’t paid. Savage declined to offer the guy money and instead chose to publicly discuss the leaked footage to control the narrative. Savage recalled the incident on Asake’s 2022 single “Loaded”, on which she was featured.

Personal life.

Savage was married to Tunji “Tee Billz” Balogun. On November 23, 2013, the pair married in traditional style at the Ark in Lekki. Their white wedding took place on April 26, 2014, at the Armani Hotel in Dubai. Savage and Balogun revealed on January 1, 2015, that they were expecting their first child. Six months later, Savage gave birth to their son.

On April 28, 2016, Balogun charged his wife with infidelity and his mother-in-law with witchcraft. In a 45-minute interview with This Day newspaper and Pulse Nigeria, Savage addressed her husband’s lengthy social media remarks about their marriage. She denied her husband’s charges of infidelity and accused him of financial mismanagement, drug addiction, and abandonment. She stated that her marriage to him was over. On July 19, 2021, Savage lost her father to an unexplained illness.

Tiwa Savage Net Worth

Tiwa Savage is one of Nigeria’s most influential music stars today. Her net worth in US dollars is expected to be $15 million in 2025. While album sales account for the majority of her net worth, her other sources of income have greatly grown her wealth over the years, including stage performances and endorsement deals with notable Nigerian firms like MTN, Pepsi, Forte Oil, and Maggi.

Social Media

Instagram: @tiwasavage