Tiwa Savage

Tiwatope Omolara Savage (born February 5, 1980), widely known as Tiwa Savage, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress. She is recognized for her significant contributions to the Nigerian music industry and is often referred to as the "Queen of Afrobeats."Early Life and Education Tiwa Savage was born in Isale Eko, Lagos State, Nigeria. At the age of 11, her family relocated to London, England, where she completed her secondary education. While in secondary school, she was a trombone player in her school's orchestra band. Savage pursued higher education at the University of Kent, and later, fueled by her passion for music, she enrolled at the Berklee College of Music, graduating in 2007.Career Progression and Beginnings Savage began her music career at 16, performing backup vocals for established international artists such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige. In 2009, she signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which allowed her to write for prominent musicians including Babyface, Fantasia, and Monica. Her songwriting credits include Jaicko's “Oh Yeah,” featuring Snoop Dogg, and she also performed background vocals on Whitney Houston's 2009 album, *I Look to You*. Inspired by the growing Nigerian music industry, Savage moved back to Nigeria and signed with Mavin Records in 2012.Major Achievements and Notable Works In 2013, Savage released her debut studio album, *Once Upon a Time*. She continued her success with her second studio album, *R.E.D*, released in 2015. In 2016, she secured a major record deal with Roc Nation. She later signed a global record deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) in 2019. A highly successful period came with the release of her critically acclaimed EP, *Sugarcane*, which included the hit track "Ma Lo" featuring Wizkid. The song became a massive club and radio success, garnering over 34 million views on YouTube. Savage achieved a historic milestone in 2018 when she was crowned Best African Act by the MTV European Music Awards, becoming the first female artist to win the accolade. Her album *Celia* and EP *Water & Garri* further cemented her international profile.Current Status Tiwa Savage remains one of Africa's most influential and followed female artists on social media. She continues to release music under her Universal Music Group deal, maintaining her status as a leading figure in the Afrobeats genre globally. In addition to her musical career, she is involved in philanthropy and is recognized as a fashion icon. She received an honorary degree in her later career, marking her achievements beyond performance.