Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has shared a candid reflection on her journey with identity, revealing that she once felt unhappy being called African while growing up in London. Today, she says the global rise of Afrobeats has transformed her pride in her heritage.
“I remember growing up in London and I was not happy being African. But now I’m so proud because of how big Afrobeats is growing,” Tiwa said.
She highlighted the genre’s impact, noting that Afrobeats has achieved massive global recognition despite starting with little support or infrastructure. “Afrobeats is the fastest growing genre in the world. We kind of created it with nothing; no support, no infrastructure, no real belief even from our own people initially,” she explained.
Addressing critics who once suggested the genre’s success would be fleeting, Tiwa said: “There was a conversation at one point that Afrobeats is going to have its 15 minutes of fame and then fades away. But we are still here. We are not slowing down. In fact, we are filling out stadiums, and we are getting the biggest songs on the charts right now.”
She also pointed to the African diaspora’s growing presence, stating: “I don’t know how true this is, but apparently one in every four black persons is a Nigerian or an African. So, we are not going anywhere. As much as they are trying to quiet us down, the music is not going anywhere. We are Africans and we are unstoppable.”
Tiwa’s reflections underscore how Afrobeats has not only shaped her career but also reshaped her connection to her roots, turning past insecurities into a source of pride.
