In this unforgettable episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with the one and only Tiwa Savage — singer, songwriter, and enduring icon of the African music movement. With a career that’s spanned continents and broken barriers, Tiwa gets candid about her journey, from joining Mavin Records to navigating fame, motherhood, and her return to R&B.

She opens up about being pregnant while recording the RED album, the hunger for money as a rising star, and what it really took to build a career that has lasted over a decade. Joey and Tiwa explore the challenges of championing sensuality in a conservative industry, Tiwa’s Afro-RnB sound, working with Beyoncé on Keys to the Kingdom, and what it means to raise a son while also raising a legacy.

0:00–1:45 – Separation between home and work

1:45–3:43 – Tiwa’s hopes for her son

3:43–8:34 – Laying the foundation for longevity in music

8:34–11:15 – “I started late” – on timing and career doubts

11:15–13:56 – Navigating structure in a chaotic industry

13:56–15:44 – Scaling and surviving as a woman in music

15:44–19:15 – Championing sensuality in conservative Nigeria

19:15–20:59 – “Come home, Tiwa” – Leaving L.A. for the Nigerian market

20:59–24:39 – Becoming ‘Tiwa Savage’ full time

24:39–26:48 – Defining Afro-RnB

26:48–27:45 – Telling stories through projects

27:45–32:30 – From Mavin Records to the major leagues

32:30–34:48 – A popstar becomes a mother

34:48–36:41 – Ten years later: reflecting on a legendary run

36:41–40:02 – Staying true while staying versatile

40:02–42:53 – Working with Beyoncé and approaching perfection

42:53–46:29 – Building a sustainable music industry in Nigeria

46:29–end – Tiwa on Afrobeats to the World and her legacy