Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has opened up about widespread exploitation within Nigeria’s music industry.
During a panel hosted by Entertainment Week Africa, she revealed facing pressure to exchange sexual favors for career advancement. Savage recounted being told to meet powerful male executives to secure performance bookings, and how her refusal to comply cost her endorsement deals.
In one notable example, she was invited to join a company co-owner on a trip to Dubai, which she turned down, leading to the loss of a significant endorsement. Savage explained, “I was warned that if I didn’t personally meet this chairman, I wouldn’t be booked for shows. I lost a deal because I refused to travel to Dubai with a man who co-owns the company.”
She expressed her frustration at being valued for her body rather than her talent, stating, “It was clear they saw me only through a lens of physical appeal, which I used purely for branding. That realization was painful because my skills were overlooked.”
