Tiwa Savage added that her experiences in the music industry made her realise that some executives value her body more than her talent.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ace Afrobeats singer and songwriter, Tiwa Savage, has alleged that she once lost a major endorsement deal because she refused to travel to Dubai for a holiday with the company’s co-owner.
She made this revelation while speaking as a panel member at an event organised by Entertainment Week Africa. During the discussion, she confirmed that the demand for sex in exchange for opportunities is one of the major challenges female artists face in the Nigerian music industry.
The ‘Somebody’s Son’ crooner also recounted experiences where she was told to personally visit influential male executives before she could be booked for certain shows.
She added that these experiences in the music industry made her realise that some executives placed more value on her body than on her talent.
While addressing the topic, Tiwa Savage stated: “I had been told that if I don’t go and see ‘this chairman’ personally, I would not be put on a show. 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, which I was only flaunting as part of branding. It ended up hurting me because that is all they were seeing.”
