Award-winning singer Tiwa Savage has candidly addressed the sexual pressures that female artists often face in Nigeria’s music industry, revealing that demands for sexual favors in exchange for career opportunities remain a significant barrier.
Speaking at Entertainment Week Africa, Tiwa Savage shared personal experiences that shed light on the systemic exploitation confronting female performers.
The star recounted being repeatedly told to “personally see” powerful male executives as a prerequisite for securing appearances on certain shows.
“I was told that if I didn’t go and see this ‘chairman’ personally, I wouldn’t be put on a show,” Savage revealed.
She explained that these requests were often framed as mandatory, leaving little room for refusal and making it clear that access to opportunities depended more on compliance than talent.
Savage also described losing a lucrative endorsement deal after rejecting a sexual advance from a company stakeholder.
“I lost an endorsement because I refused to go to Dubai with a man who is one of the company’s owners,” she said.
The incident highlighted a painful reality: some executives prioritized exploiting her body over nurturing her artistry.
Reflecting on the experience, Tiwa Savage said it marked a turning point in her career, forcing her to confront the objectification of female artists.
“That was when I realized they didn’t value my talent but my body, which I was showcasing as part of my brand,” she stated.
She clarified that her creative image was an integral part of her artistic identity, yet exploitative executives reduced it to an invitation for sexual favors.
“It ended up hurting me because that is all they were seeing,” Savage added.
