In a recent interview with Forbes Africa on Thursday, Tiwa Savage opened up about the challenges of managing artists, admitting that she feels ill-equipped for the role. The Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress shared that she has no intentions of signing up-and-coming artists, citing the stress and responsibilities involved in managing musicians.
With a career that spans Afrobeats, jazz, and even film production, highlighted by her 2024 debut as an executive producer on Water and Garri, Savage is shifting her focus beyond music. “I want to enter my mogul era – billionaire Tiwa Savage,” she proclaimed.
Instead of signing new artists, Savage is concentrating on creating an ecosystem that allows African artists to thrive independently. “Why are we trying to break into another market? We should build our own so that others are trying to break into ours,” she explained. “If we had the right infrastructure, affordable data, and proper investment, we wouldn’t need to seek validation elsewhere.”
Savage also responded to recurring questions about signing artists: “Everyone always asks me, ‘When will you sign an artiste?’ I don’t think I have the gift to sign another artiste, because artists are stressful. I could just be sleeping, and then I wake up to find my artist trending for something else.” She continued, “But I do have the gift to help, which is why I’m focusing on establishing a music school where artists can grow and eventually sign with labels that can truly support them.”
