Nigerian music queen Tiwa Savage has made it clear—she’s not looking to sign any artists under her label. In a candid chat with Forbes Africa, she admitted that managing talents comes with too much stress.
“People keep asking me, ‘When will you sign an artist?’ But honestly, I don’t think I have that gift. Artists are stressful… I could be sleeping, and the next thing, my artist is trending for something unexpected,” she shared.
However, Tiwa isn’t turning her back on the next generation. Instead of running a label, she’s focusing on something even bigger—building a music school to nurture upcoming talents and set them up for long-term success.
“I do have the gift to help, which is why I’m working on the music school. That way, artists can learn, grow, and later sign with labels that can truly support them,” she explained.
Beyond mentoring, the Somebody’s Son hitmaker is passionate about African artists owning their craft. “We need to control our art, our publishing, our labels. We need to tell our own stories,” she emphasized.
Tiwa also dropped wisdom for up-and-coming artists, urging them to focus on building a solid foundation instead of rushing to fame.
“Cherish the early days,” she advised. “Many artists sprint to the top, but once you’re there, the pressure is intense—streams, concerts, expectations. When you’re just starting out, you have creative freedom. Build your foundation so you don’t lose yourself when the spotlight hits.”
She also challenged the industry to stop chasing Western validation and instead strengthen Africa’s music scene from within.
“Why are we trying to break into another market? We should be the market others want to break into. If we had the right infrastructure, affordable data, and investment, we wouldn’t need outside validation,” she declared.
With her visionary mindset, Tiwa Savage is proving once again that she’s not just a star—she’s a movement.
