At this point in her career, Tiwa Savage isn’t just focused on making music—she’s thinking about her legacy. From dominating charts to performing on global stages, she has spent years solidifying her status as one of Africa’s most influential artists. But now, she’s setting her sights on something even bigger.
With Water & Garri, her debut as both an executive producer and lead actress, Tiwa is stepping into the world of filmmaking. Beyond music and film, she’s deeply committed to education, philanthropy, and empowering African artists to own their narratives and their work.
In a recent conversation with Forbes Africa, she opens up about the future of African music, the power of storytelling, and what it really takes to build an empire.
Read key excerpts from the interview below.
Photo credit: forbesafrica/Instagram
On her mogul vision:
“I want to go into my mogul era – billionaire Tiwa Savage.”
On discovering her love for performing:
“When I was in school, there are basic subjects like math, English, and there are also electives like sports, drama, music – I chose drama and just even from earlier on, I knew that I had a gift for acting. Even when I started my music career, I knew, at some point, I was going to go back into that field,”
On the Influence of different musical cultures
“Growing up in Nigeria, then moving to the United Kingdom and studying jazz in America, I absorbed different musical influences,” she explains. “I can do a jazz record, a garage song, or an Afrobeats track, and it all feels authentic. I have lived these experiences.”
On Transitioning into Filmmaking with “Water & Garri“
“It was a lot of work, but there are similarities to music…I am used to repeating melodies until they are perfect. Watching scenes over and over, making corrections — it was not frustrating. It was exciting.”
On nurturing the next generation of artists
“Everyone always says to me, ‘when are you going to sign an artist?’ I don’t think I have the gift to sign another artist, because artists are stressful… I could just be sleeping, and then I will wake up and my artist is trending for something else”.
“But I do have the gift to help, which is why I am trying to do the music school, where you can go and later sign to a label that can actually help you.’’
On whether she plans to retire
“Not retirement, per se, but sometimes the pressure gets to you. That is why having a strong team is important. Plus, let us be real, I need to keep making money. I do not know how to do anything else.”
On her philanthropic goals:
“I really want to delve into my philanthropy. I want to start different NGOs [non-governmental organisations] to help women, to help young girls.’’
On advice for emerging artists
“Cherish the beginning. A lot of artists rush to the top, but once you are there, you face pressures — streams, concerts, obligations. When you start, you are free to create without limitations. Build a strong foundation, so when opinions come at you, you do not lose yourself.”
Read the full interview here.
