Award-winning singer Tiwa Savage has opened up about one of the most persistent challenges confronting women in the Nigerian music industry: the demand for sexual favors in exchange for professional opportunities.
Speaking during a panel session at Entertainment Week Africa, Tiwa Savage recounted instances in her career where she was pressured to visit influential male executives before she could be considered for certain performance bookings.
She went on to reveal that she once lost a major endorsement deal after refusing an invitation to accompany one of the company’s co-owners on a trip to Dubai. According to her, the experience was a painful reminder that some industry gatekeepers prioritized her physical appearance over her artistry.
“I had been told that if I don’t go and see ‘this chairman’ personally, I would not be put on a show,” she said. “I lost an endorsement because I refused to go to Dubai with a man who is one of the owners of the company.
“That was when I realised that they don’t value my talent but my body, which I was only flaunting as part of branding. It ended up hurting me because that is all they were seeing.”
Tiwa Savage’s comments add to the growing conversation about exploitation, gender bias, and the urgent need for reforms to protect women working in entertainment.
