Tiwa Savage has become a household in Nigeria as well as the continent Africa and several parts of the world after working her way to global dominance.
Born Tiwatope Savage on February 5th, 1980 in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, the 36-year old singer, songwriter and actress is a mother of one to now estranged husband, Tunji "Tee Billz" Balogun.
Tiwa was taken to London at the age 11 after her family relocated to the United Kingdom where she went to attend high school and college. Tiwa studied Business Administration at the University of Kent following the wish of her parents who were against her music ambition and she went on to enroll as trainee accountant at the Royal Bank of Scotland.
As a teenager, her mum once taunted her that she could grow up to become gay because of her tom boy looks. Tiwa who played the Trombone at her high school band quit her job to move to the United State so she could pursue her music career. At the age of 16, Tiwa became a back up singer for George Michael and her love for music saw her prevail as a backup singer and stage performer for many stars that included the defunct Destiny's Child, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Eminem, 50 Cent, Robbie Williams, The Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Chaka Khan, and a host of others.
Her love for music grew and saw her quit her job to enroll at the Berklee College of Music were she graduated as a professional singer at age 27. While in school, she registered as a contestant for the UK's The X-Factor where she made the top 24.
She moved to Los Angeles and when she was becoming a force to reckon with, Sony/ATV Music signed Tiwa Savage where she would go on to write for top American artists that included Monica, Babyface, Fantasia, Mya among others.
Returning To Nigeria
After being convinced to relocate and start a career in her place of birth, Tiwa moved back to Nigeria in 2010. She met her then manager Tunji "Tee Billz" Balogun who would go on to become her husband. According to Tiwa Savage in her documentary with E! VIP Series, when she first met Tee Billz, she didn't fall in love because she felt he was too arrogant.
Tee Billz would go on to lay the foundation for Tiwa's career. Together, they set up the entertainment outfit, 323 Entertainment with Tiwa Savage as its first artiste. The label would go on to add UK based star, Iceberg Slim and Nigerian indigenous rapper, CDQ.
She dropped her first single 'Kele Kele Love' in 2010 that would go on to introduce her to the Nigerian populace and start a new revolution for female singers in the country.
In 2012, Tiwa Savage signed as the first female act on the newly formed Mavin Record by Don Jazzy after 323 Entertainment entered into a partnership with Mavin Records. Tiwa Savage released her long awaited debut album, "Once Upon A Time" on July 3, 2013.
She released her second studio album "R.E.D" in 2015 and also launched a USA R.E.D tour where she performed before many fans.
Following rumors that Tiwa Savage was set to quit Mavin Records for Roc Nation co owned by Jay Z, on July 2016, both Roc Nation and Mavin Records announced Tiwa Savage has signed a management deal with the outfit and Tiwa Savage announced her first collaboration with Roc Nation star, Young Paris.
Marriage And Controversy
In February 2013, Tiwa Savage and Tee Billz got engaged and got married traditionally in November 23, 2013. The couple had their white wedding in April 2014 and welcomed their first child together - a boy - on July 2015, named Jamil Balogun.
In April 2016, the internet was shocked when Tee Billz surfaced on social media to disclose that his wife Tiwa Savage had cheated on him several times sensationally mentioning the names of her colleagues, Don Jazzy, Dr. Sid, and legendary 2Baba. He reportedly tried to commit suicide by jumping off the Lekki bridge but was saved by best friend, Banky W and Peter Okoye of P-Square.
In a tell all interview with Azuka Ogujiuba of ThisDay for Pulseng, Tiwa Savage denied the allegations by her husband revealing even more shocking details about his life and how she had coped with the failing marriage. She disclosed she had concluded to separate from him.
