Nigeria’s leading female artist, Tiwa Savage, has opened up about the dark side of the music business, revealing that she’s been pressured to use her body for career advancement.
Speaking during a panel at Entertainment Week Africa, she said the demand for sex from female artistes in exchange for gigs and endorsements remains a major obstacle for women in the industry.
Savage shared that she was told by influential male executives that she needed to personally “visit this chairman” before she could be booked for certain shows.
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The implication, she said, was clear: her talent alone was not enough, her presence in private settings was expected.
In a second, more startling disclosure, the singer said she once lost a lucrative endorsement deal after she refused to travel to Dubai with one of the company’s co-owners. She claimed the man had made the trip a condition of the deal.
“I had been told that if I don’t go and see ‘this chairman’ personally, I would not be put on a show,” she said. “I lost an endorsement because I refused to go to Dubai with a man who is one of the owners of the company. That was when I realised that they don’t value my talent but my body … It ended up hurting me because that is all they were seeing.”
Savage’s revelation adds weight to long-standing concerns that sexual harassment and exploitation remain entrenched in Nigeria’s creative industry. She said the incidents shaped her understanding that many executives view women’s bodies as bargaining chips, rather than respecting their artistic value.
The singer’s story is far from new. She previously spoke about similar experiences early in her career. In a 2016 interview, she revealed that men would request sexual favours under the guise of helping emerging female talents.
On that occasion, she said it was her partner at the time who refused those advances on her behalf, allowing her to focus on her gift instead of compromising her principles.
Commenting on her more recent ordeal, Savage called the Dubai proposition not only offensive but symbolic of deeper sexism in the industry.
She explained how such demands reduce a woman’s worth to her physical appeal rather than artistry.
Her remarks also point to a broader systemic issue, a culture in which executives leverage power and influence to manipulate rising artists.
The singer’s courage to speak out has reignited important conversations about accountability in the music industry.
Female artists, advocates, and fans have praised her honesty, calling for stronger protections, transparent policies, and safer reporting mechanisms for harassment.
Tiwa Savage’s story underscores just how far some in the Nigerian music business still have to go to ensure equitable treatment. It’s also a bold reminder: success should never come at the cost of dignity.
