Nigerian music superstar Tiwa Savage recently opened up about a challenging period in her life when motherhood and career pressures collided. In a heartfelt conversation with YouTuber Korty EO, the singer shared how the birth of her son initially left her struggling to adjust.
Tiwa revealed that she had always hoped for a daughter, which made bonding with her son difficult during his first couple of years. She admitted to feeling emotional when she learned she was having a boy, even breaking down in tears.
“Honestly, I didn’t really bond with my son for the first year or two,” Tiwa said. “I had always wanted a girl, and when they told me it was a boy, I just cried. He was crying a lot, and my body didn’t bounce back the way I expected. I looked horrible. I was supposed to do a campaign with Pepsi at the time, but they turned me away. I felt like this boy had ruined me. But now… he’s my best friend.”
Beyond the early struggles, Tiwa Savage shared the joy and pride her son brings into her life today. She also emphasized the values she wants to instill in him, particularly around respecting women.
“I always tell him, ‘Your mum went through a lot, so make sure you treat any girl like a queen.’ It’s important to me that he grows up to be a good man. He’s going to make mistakes—he’s not perfect—but at his core, I want him to be kind.”
Tiwa Savage welcomed her son, Jamil Balogun, in July 2015 with her ex-husband Tunji Balogun, and over the years, she has navigated both the highs and challenges of balancing motherhood and a stellar music career.
