Nigerian superstar Tiwa Savage has opened up about a painful but transformative chapter of her life her struggle to embrace her African identity while growing up abroad. The singer, now celebrated globally as one of Afrobeats’ leading voices, revealed that her early years were marked by confusion, insecurity, and a longing to fit in.
In a recent interview, Tiwa shared that she “didn’t like being African” as a child because of how African culture was often ridiculed in Western societies. “Growing up in the U.K., people would laugh at my name, my accent, even the food my mom packed for me,” she said. “It made me wish I wasn’t African. I just wanted to blend in and not be different.”
Savage’s experience reflects a broader reality faced by many Africans in the diaspora the challenge of maintaining cultural identity in environments that often fail to appreciate diversity. For Tiwa, those difficult years planted the seed for what would later become her greatest strength: a fierce pride in her roots and a mission to amplify African voices on the global stage.
“As I got older, I started realizing how powerful it is to be African,” she continued. “The music, the fashion, the language there’s so much richness in our culture. What people used to mock, the world now celebrates. That’s beautiful to see.”
Tiwa’s rise to fame has mirrored the global evolution of Afrobeats, a genre that now dominates charts and festivals around the world. Her collaborations with international stars like Beyoncé, Sam Smith, and Brandy have helped solidify Africa’s place at the center of contemporary pop culture.
But behind the glamour, Tiwa says her journey remains deeply personal. “When I stand on stage today, it’s not just about the music,” she explained. “It’s about showing every young African child that there’s nothing wrong with who they are. Our identity is our power.”
Her words have struck a chord with fans, many of whom see her story as a reflection of their own struggles with acceptance and belonging. Through her honesty, Tiwa Savage continues to use her voice not only to entertain, but also to heal, empower, and redefine what it means to be proudly African.