Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage is a Nigerian afrobeats singer and songwriter from Ikeja, Nigeria, born in 1980. She begins as a musician in school, playing trombone in her high school band before moving into singing, and at 16 she sings backup for George Michael. She later performs at local talent shows in London, where she gains attention as a vocalist.

Early career and performance work

Before launching a solo recording career, Savage sings backing vocals for a wide range of artists including Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Emma Bunton, Kelly Clarkson, Blu Cantrell and Andrea Bocelli. She also shares stages with Sting, 50 Cent, The Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Robbie Williams and Destiny’s Child. Her early work places her in both live performance and studio environments alongside major international acts.

Songwriting and recordings

Savage is an avid songwriter from the age of 15 and signs as a songwriter to Sony ATV. She sets up her own 323 imprint with entrepreneur Tunji “Tee Billz” Balogun and later is associated with Sony ATV/Tiwa Savage Publishing and 4rt Africa. Her debut material draws on Yoruba-language songs as well as R&B and soulful pop. She works with producers and writers including Chuck Harmony, Warren “Oak” Felder, So Sick, Babyface, The Underdogs, Brian Kennedy and RedOne.

Her writing credits include Jaicko’s “Oh Yeah,” featuring Snoop Dogg, Kat DeLuna’s “Push Push,” featuring Akon and produced by David Guetta, and Fantasia’s “Collard Greens & Cornbread” from Back to Me. She also contributes to Letoya Luckett’s album and provides background vocals on Whitney Houston’s I Look to You. Savage says that writing for herself is more rewarding, and she includes political songs such as “Middle Passage,” about the struggles of African men in a foreign country.

Education and style

She is a scholarship recipient and a graduate of Berklee College of Music. Her work is described through afrobeats with pop and R&B influences, and she is known for combining singing with songwriting across her career.