Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has pulled back the curtain on the personal cost of fame and success, revealing that motherhood nearly brought her career to a halt and plunged her into one of the most challenging chapters of her life.
Speaking in a candid interview with content creator Korty EO, the 45-year-old singer reflected on the period following the birth of her son, Jamil, in 2015, describing it as a time marked by emotional turmoil, professional rejection and self-doubt.
Savage said the physical toll of childbirth, combined with the entertainment industry’s rigid expectations, quickly translated into lost opportunities. She recalled being sidelined for a major endorsement shortly after giving birth, an experience that reinforced her fears about the fragility of her career.
“When he came… my body didn’t snap back. I looked horrible. I was supposed to do a campaign with Pepsi… and they turned me away. I just thought this boy has destroyed me,” she said.
Beyond the public-facing setbacks, the award-winning artiste admitted that she struggled privately with motherhood and did not immediately connect with her son, a reality she said is rarely discussed openly.
“Honestly, I didn’t bond with my son for the first year or two,” Savage said. “I always wanted a girl. They told me it was a boy, and I started crying.”
She explained that the pressure to reclaim her physical appearance and remain relevant in a highly competitive industry deepened her emotional strain, feeding into the unspoken narrative that motherhood can derail women’s careers in entertainment.
Over time, however, Savage said both her personal life and perspective shifted. Now 10, Jamil has become her closest confidant and strongest supporter, a relationship she insists is authentic and not shaped for public consumption.
“He’s my best friend,” she said, noting that her parenting is influenced by her own experiences of emotional hardship.
“I always tell him, ‘Your mum suffered oo, make sure you treat any girl like a queen.’ At the core of him, I want him to be kind.”
Jamil, who featured alongside his mother in the interview, offered words of encouragement that underscored their bond, urging Savage to continue her music career despite earlier doubts. “Don’t retire. We still need you,” he told her. “Just push yourself to the limit.”
The interview also included emotional testimony from Jamil’s nanny, a Philippine national who has been with the family for nearly a decade. She praised Savage’s humility and discipline, describing her as a dedicated mother rather than a distant celebrity.
“Madame Tiwa is the best employer,” she said tearfully. “She never spoils a child… I’m still longing to stay with them longer.”
Looking back, Savage compared her journey to a phoenix rising from the ashes, noting that she launched her solo career in her early thirties and has repeatedly had to rebuild herself in the face of personal and professional upheaval.
She also disclosed that she recently took her first-ever solo holiday, spending a week alone in the Maldives, an experience she described as a significant step toward self-care. “I have never even been to a restaurant alone,” she admitted.
Today, Savage says resilience defines her story as much as success.
“A phoenix rises out of its ashes,” she said. “I’m still here.”
