Tiwa Savage, the Queen of Afrobeats, sang backup for George Michael and Whitney Houston before conquering Nigeria. Here is her full biography: London and Berklee years, Mavin, Universal, This One Is Personal, her film Water & Garri and her estimated net worth.
Quick facts
| Real name | Tiwatope Omolara Savage |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 February 1980, Isale Eko, Lagos |
| Education | Accounting, University of Kent; Berklee College of Music (2007) |
| Labels | Mavin (2012–2019), Universal Music Group (from 2019) |
| Albums | Once Upon a Time, R.E.D, Celia, This One Is Personal (2025) |
| Film | Water & Garri (star, co-producer) |
| Milestone | First woman to win MTV EMA Best African Act (2018) |
| Estimated net worth | $10 million – $15 million |
Who is Tiwa Savage?
Tiwa Savage is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress, often called the Queen of Afrobeats. For more than a decade she has been the leading woman in Nigerian pop.
Early life and education
Tiwatope Omolara Savage was born on 5 February 1980 in Isale Eko, Lagos. Her family moved to London when she was 11. She studied accounting at the University of Kent and worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland, then graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2007. Kent later gave her an honorary doctorate in music (2022).
Early career
At 16 she was singing backup for George Michael, and later for stars including Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston. She reached the final 24 of the UK X Factor in 2006 and signed a songwriting deal with Sony/ATV in 2009.
Music career
Back in Nigeria, she signed with Don Jazzy's Mavin Records in 2012 and released Once Upon a Time (2013) and R.E.D (2015), plus the EP Sugarcane. In 2019 she signed a deal with Universal Music Group, then released Celia (2020), the EP Water & Garri (2021) and the album This One Is Personal (2025).
She starred in and co-produced the film Water & Garri, shot in Ghana, and wrote its soundtrack. In May 2023 she performed at the Coronation Concert for King Charles III at Windsor Castle.
