Stella Dimoko Korkus.com: Tiwa Savage Tells CNN’s ‘African Voices’Why She Returned To Nigeria

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Friday, February 10, 2017

Tiwa Savage Tells CNN’s ‘African Voices’Why She Returned To Nigeria

This week ‘African Voices’ meets one of Nigeria’s biggest stars, Tiwa Savage, whose vocal talents have taken her from humble roots in a church choir to singing in Los Angeles with some of the industry’s biggest stars.


The programme reports from Lagos, where ‘African Voices’ discovers what made Savage return to Nigeria and build her career at home.

‘African Voices’ learns that finding success at home was an uphill climb, as Savage explains: “When I first moved to Nigeria, I got a lot of people discouraging me about being a female artist, and a lot of people didn't want to invest money or time because they didn't think I was lucrative…. Female artists are huge in other parts of the world. It shouldn't be different in Africa."

Savage’s musical career began at 16 years old, when she was singing backing vocals for the late pop star George Michael.

‘African Voices’ learns that this not only allowed Savage to move to Los Angeles in the United States, but also collaborate with other notable musicians such as Akon, Kat Deluna and Fantasia.

Savage explains to the programme what made her decide to return to Lagos: “I worked with a lot of people, and they would be interested by my name… ‘Where’s that from?’ I’d say it’s Nigerian, West African, and they’d say, ‘You’re African?’ and fascinated that I was straight from the Motherland… This was a lightbulb moment. These people were interested in Africa, and here I was running from it.”

Having now returned to Nigeria as a recognised star, Savage explains how life in Lagos has changed since leaving at a young age: “It's overwhelming, as well. My family is from here… It's a great feeling, but sometimes you really just want to run, get something and go back home.”

‘African Voices’ accompanies Savage to several personal landmarks around the city, including Maven Studios, where she is currently recording, as well as the City Mission Methodist Church, where Savage had her first audition as a singer.

Reflecting on what she has learnt on her journey and the decision to build a career in Nigeria, Savage tells ‘African Voices’ what advice she would give her past self: “Believe in Africa. Believe in yourself, and believe in Africa.”

Also in this week’s ‘African Voices’, the programme travels to South Africa to meet meets world-renowned singer Thandiswa Mazwai and reports from Zambia, where it meets rising freestyle star, Fungai Chileshe.





35 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I just love her hard working nature. A beautiful and a strong woman.

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    2. One hit wonder. A mediocre singer. No hate but she is better off as a back up singer than the main artist. You all might disagree all you like but she doesn't have the IT FACTOR . Over hyped

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  2. Tiwa has always been a charmer for me. Me likey.

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    1. But this wasn't the story on E! VIP, she said she met teebillz in LA and he became her manager and everything changed. She has edited him out of her success story...lmao. She shot that one when the going was good

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  3. There's something about this lady though still can't place my hands on it,I can't tell if I like her or not,she doesn't appeal to me.

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    1. We are together, I don't know why to me, she's kinda fake

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    2. Her sour skank face. There is something about her that is not appealing too and she thinks she is the best thing that ever happened to Naija since slice bread

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    3. Her sour skank face. There is something about her that is not appealing too and she thinks she is the best thing that ever happened to Naija since slice bread

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    4. Exactly how I feel about her honestly.
      I have tried to like her.
      But I don't like her voice.
      She seems fake to me really.

      She looks like a nice person but I don't like her.

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  4. In a way I think it's good Tiwa returned. Even Di'ja did the abroad thingy for a while. Seyi Shay too. Many people want to remain in the abroad even when their star will shine from somewhere else. Shebi from here she now met JayZ? Me I believe in Africa 100%.

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    1. God bless our mother land African.We are Africans.

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    2. Wow for once u don't have a story of how u or ur sister was supposed to stay abroad and sing and someone suggested yall move to Nigeria. And now u and ur family have hit it big.
      No? U sure this hasn't happened to ur sister or u? Check well oh...We'll wait.

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    3. Anon 12:18- I actually do oh. Please check below. Read and receive sense to go and work hard and stop trolling your seniors. Thank you.

      So I heard one gist, right... My friends uncle who's a top civil service Pulzon. Sometime in 1994 when things were tough in Nigeria; his official superior sold all he had and relocated to *wont name the country* with his family for 'greener pastures'. My friends uncle sha continued in his job and got promoted to fill that position. So, 21 years later they went on conference in 'the abroad'. After the programme, he was discussing with some dignitaries from other countries. That's how a very mature cleaner walked up to him and was like he wants to talk to him. Okay. The cleaner asked him: Are you xx? He replied and asked why. The man just brought out his ID card. My friend said her uncle screamed. That was his boss who left Nigeria. Said her uncle didn't know when he started shedding tears there and then.

      This my friends uncle is an Abuja big boy. You know top civil servants now. Has houses, Retired well. To think that the conference the cleaner would have been attending was the conference he was cleaning up after. My friend said when the man returned, he begged all of them schooling abroad that please if it's not working there shouldn't go and die there. Because you don't know where your destiny lies.


      Are you happy now Anon? 😝😝😝

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    4. Even me too.... after my masters I left 'the abroad 'jejely'. I didn't stay to 'make it'. Some were marrying 'anyone' for papers. Many of them are divorced today, because of 'I must stay abroad'. How's that?

      I dey Nigeria, some people say there's no boo in UK. Yet I have UK boo on my case. How's that? Not to talk of my sisters who have married dual citizenship guys, and we all grew up in Nigeria. When many people are running from those countries to find husband. So how's that? 😂😂 oschisco plc! When you people can't type coherent gist you want to bully those of us who can. Swerve!

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    5. Lol this Chikito is just a child! So an Anon teased u and u fell flat? Wow. How old are you again? I bet there's no validation in your real life hence the need to seek it here. Smh

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    6. @Chikito,interesting story.....

      But I beg to differ...

      Some of us over here are professionals at the top of our fields in sectors that we wouldn't even dream of in Nigeria.

      I came to the UK for my masters. My then boyfriend, now hubby followed a year later. From student visa to post study work visa, then work visa, indefinite leave to remain and finally citizenship. I kid you not, it was by the Grace of God but it can be done. We didn't have to do "rubbish jobs" as they call it (although I believe as long as the job is legit, there's nothing like a rubbish job) like cleaning, sweeping and the likes.

      We come from average families as well so there was no Naija money flowing in to help us out. Like I said, it was by God's Grace. We both studied and worked hard to get to where we are today.

      Now, we both earn six figure salaries, have investments and properties, travel at will to exotic places without worries of visa or money. We also have friends and families who are in this bracket as well

      I think Nigerians are used to stories where people do arranged marriages or fraudulent activities to stay abroad or stay in dead end jobs with no prospects of a better life. They hardly hear stories of honest to goodness hardworking professionals who have made it here despite the odds. I think it's high time we are heard of as well.

      Thanks

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    7. Anon 14:12- exactly!! That's where you were meant to be, right?? That's my point.

      Trust me I know that going abroad elevates some people. Some of my colleagues who started the program with me met and married well; and are living life on very good income. Some got their visas switched by employers. With mouth watering paychecks. But it happened naturally. It wasn't forced or done with 'it's a do or die'. Our destinies are different, is all I'm saying. It was meant to happen for you and it did. And so will it be for people who it's meant to be for. Imagine if I hear this your story now and I come to Uk and say 'it must be for me to' does that mean it would?

      But some people, hian!! They must die there oh even doing odd jobs day and night. Years on and nothing to show for it. Don't even have ticket to visit home. Just paying bills upon bills. I just wonder.... last time I went to UK I saw a friend and I asked her 'na by force?' Babe doesn't even have her own apartment after how many years. But she said she must stay. I just helped with what I could and prayed for her. Someone that was doing IT in a Nigerian bank, doing very well. If I see my fellow Nigerians getting six-figure jobs and I'm still on one odd job for donkey years, nne I've gathered what I have and gone back home oh.

      As much as there are no rubbish jobs, I would like to look back at my life and feel 'fulfilled' that I did the kind of job(s) I wanted to. Not that I just worked and paid bills till the end. I did care in nursing homes, sorted mails all to get by temporarily. And I made some cool cash. Maybe because I don't have 'responsibilities' as such. Would I now have remained there doing those jobs for years? No, I honestly won't.

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    8. Anon 13:54- please come and validate me 😭😭😭 Amebor grown up!!

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    9. Chikito, I've got a fantastic job here in the UK. I work as a project manager. I came here when I was 12, attended one of the best schools (Cheltenham Ladies College), attended a finishing school in Switzerland and got my BSc from University of Exeter. My first MSc where I got a distinction by the way was gotten from Warwick University. Second one from St Andrews University. My doctorate degree, Imperial College London. I pay what some people call super tax here. Meaning I earn way over £100,000 a year. Legitimately. Just so you know. Some of us here are doing fantastically well. It's the Grace of God. And I am happily married to a wonderful Nigerian man. Who earns even more than I do. Legitimately as well. As a consultant. We live in a very nice area in Surrey. And guess what? Everyone in our circle is doing fantastically well.

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    10. Anon 23:04-please I beg you in Gods name.... you're not 'Nigerian'. You left when you were 12??!! Madam, you're British 😂😂😂 Please allow those of us who did BSc here to open our belly. Because you CAN'T understand. You even went to finishing school?? In Switzerland?!! Naaah.... I truly wasn't referring to you at all.

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  5. instablog9ja. With few weeks to their wedding, U.S-based Nigerian man allegedly dumbs his fiancée, because of her vaginal shape

    Stella please search for this news online and serve it to us hot... this news is hot... called out because of the shape of the vagina or the smell or the widened of it like river Niger.

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  6. One hit wonder. A mediocre singer. No hate but she is better off as a back up singer than the main artist. You all might disagree all you like but she doesn't have the IT FACTOR . Over hyped

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    Replies
    1. Why is it that whenever there's a Tiwa Savage article on SDK, some Anonymous hater comes to derail the comments with incessant hate? This is not the first or second time. Ive been observing it. Anon, you always come to spew hatred all over. Why? Did Tunji fuck you and not call you the next day? Ayam not understanding oo! You are all over this post

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  7. Lolz...good job,keep it up?Enjoy ur hardwork sis.

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  8. @Chikito The Professional Fire For Fire, "biko nne, iga enyelum aka nata" Nigeria? "My suffer head" for this country "ana akpo" United Kingdom "di too much." "Ha!!!" I studied for my degree in United Kingdom, but all fingers are not equal. And sometimes, people don't tell the truth. You don't have to investigate people, but you just have to know your own truth "sha." Thank you in advance for helping me to return to Nigeria

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  9. Tiwa is always SOOOOO heavily made up: no difference between daytime make up, evening make up and stage makeup. always fully plastered!!!

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