Tiwa Savage walked into the studio with a calm that comes from surviving storms, then turning them into art. Sitting with Angie Martinez, she revisited a painful chapter, unpacked a bold creative pivot, and laid out a future that stretches far beyond the stage. The result felt like a masterclass in resilience, intention, and leadership.
Processing the pain, not just surviving it:
Years ago, on her way to a sit-down with Angie, Tiwa learned she was being extorted over a private video. She spoke publicly, then tried to push forward. Only later did the weight really land.
“I kept moving,” she reflected, “then two or three years later it hit me.” The aftermath brought trust issues, a reshaped team, and a period where even small betrayals felt like final straws. Therapy became crucial, although it took time to find the right fit. “Therapy is like dating,” she said with a smile, “you have to find someone you truly connect with.” That connection helped her process grief, rebuild boundaries, and reclaim her voice.
A personal album, a deliberate left turn:
Out of that inner work came a new project that is raw and confessional. Tiwa chose not to deliver the exact Afrobeat lane many expected, she expanded her palette instead. The move surprised some fans, however it was intentional. She honored the title “Queen of Afrobeat,” while also acknowledging how labels can box artists in.
“I am learning to embrace it as recognition of hard work,” she said, “and still give myself permission to evolve.” The music follows that logic, less concerned with categories, more concerned with honesty.
Afrobeats keeps rising, the lines keep blurring:
Tiwa is bullish on the genre’s global staying power. She hopes Afrobeats will sit beside R&B, hip hop, and rock as a fully established pillar worldwide. At the same time, she welcomes the shift toward Afro-fusion. Boundaries blur, influences mix, the sound moves with the culture. “That is not a bad thing,” she noted, “it is how music grows.”
Building a pipeline for African creatives:
One of the biggest headlines from the conversation was Tiwa’s partnership with Berklee College of Music. The goal, launch a music school in Africa with programs in production, engineering, business, and even music therapy. Scholarships are part of the plan, the mission is empowerment.
“We need to learn the business,” she said, citing publishing, contracts, and royalties. Education is the give-back, a way to set up the next generation to win onstage and behind the scenes.
Culture, relationships, and public expectations:
Tiwa clarified a viral comment about being open to becoming a second wife. For her, it was less a declaration, more a thought experiment about possibilities and how people live in different cultures. The bigger theme was expectation. Fans often place public figures on pedestals, then struggle when those figures express vulnerability. Tiwa refuses perfection theater. “Whether I am Queen of Afrobeat or not, I am a woman, I have insecurities,” she said plainly.
Life notes, inspirations, and joy:
The interview’s lighter moments showed Tiwa’s playful side. Her bucket list includes seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, bikini photos in the snow for the memories, and karaoke that leans Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine.” She is inspired by excellence, especially in creative fields, and yes, she is single, open to love, and drawn to talent and dedication.
Flowers now, not later:
The passing of D’Angelo hit her hard, sending her into a deep dive on his artistry and soul. The conversation turned to giving people their flowers in real time. Tiwa has been collecting some of her own, including the 2025 Forbes Women African Media Icon Award, plus her new album hitting number one on Nigerian iTunes and the UK R&B chart. She accepted the applause with gratitude, then pivoted to the work ahead, more music, more film writing, more building.
The Angie effect:
Angie Martinez guided the conversation with care, letting Tiwa revisit the first time they met, a moment pressed under chaos and headlines. This time felt different, softer, steadier, celebratory. Angie’s questions drew out the lessons beneath the headlines, how healing actually happens, how boundaries are rebuilt, how an artist chooses self over expectations and still shows love to the audience that crowned her.
The takeaway:
Tiwa Savage is not simply surviving; she is choosing. She is choosing therapy when the internet says rush, craft when the crowd says repeat, and education when the industry says figure it out alone. The music reflects that choice, personal and unafraid. The school plan reflects it too, practical and visionary at once.
The crown sits, the compass points forward, and the work speaks for itself.