Tiwa Savage opens up about the discrimination she faced early in her career.
In an interview with BET Talks, Tiwa Savage shared her experiences from the start of her career to her recent venture into filmmaking with her debut feature film ‘Water & Garri,’ which she both starred in and executive produced.
Tiwa revealed that her early days in the Nigerian music industry were fraught with challenges, particularly due to her bold dress sense and sensual style. Speaking with host Unique Chapman, she recounted being heavily criticized, having her songs banned on terrestrial stations, and even being barred from performing because of her risqué outfits and provocative music.
She noted that her experience is not unique, highlighting that many female artists have faced similar hurdles. “They get overlooked and they can’t do soundchecks,” she said, pointing out the discriminatory practices in the industry. “When I first moved back, I would turn up for a show, and they would say I couldn’t perform because of my outfit.”
Despite these obstacles, Tiwa Savage chose to embrace her style even more. “I am very stubborn. So I was like, my dress is just going to get shorter and my shirt is going to get more revealing,” she told BET Talks. Her defiance paid off, as she garnered admiration and support from female fans, helping her grow a substantial supporter base. This growing fanbase made it impossible for show promoters and media to ignore her.
Since then, Tiwa Savage has risen to become one of the most prominent figures in Nigerian pop music, helping to pave the way for more female artists in the industry.
In addition to her music career, Tiwa recently ventured into acting and filmmaking with ‘Water & Garri,’ marking another milestone in her diverse and influential career.