The Breakfast Club: Tiwa Savage Talks 'This One Is Personal,' Davido, Tyla, Afrobeats, Ageism, Dating, Healing & More
Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: September 23, 2025
Host(s): Charlamagne Tha God, Juju Green (with Lauren LaRosa also present)
Episode Overview
This engaging episode features Nigerian music superstar Tiwa Savage discussing her deeply personal new album, "This One Is Personal." The conversation spans Tiwa’s artistic evolution, genre experimentation, healing after heartbreak, industry challenges such as ageism and misogyny, high-profile relationships and fallouts, cultural differences, therapy and spirituality, and her vision for supporting the next generation of African artists. The tone is candid, vulnerable, humorous, and empowering, offering an authentic look into the life and mind of one of Afrobeats’ most celebrated voices.
KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS
1. The Making of "This One Is Personal"
- A Deeply Personal Project:
- Tiwa reveals every lyric on the album is rooted in her real experiences and emotions, not fabrication.
“Everything was like, exactly what I went through. Every single emotion, every single line.” — Tiwa Savage [03:51]
- Inspired partly by heartbreak, but also years of unaddressed pain—culminating in this cathartic musical expression.
- Tiwa reveals every lyric on the album is rooted in her real experiences and emotions, not fabrication.
- Breaking Afrobeats Expectations:
- Afrobeat is often about feel-good music, but Tiwa wanted to break that mold:
“I decided to take a leap of faith and just really put out my heart, which we don’t really get in Afrobeat.” — Tiwa Savage [04:16]
- She tapped into her R&B roots, inspired by Brandy, Monica, and 90s US sounds she grew up on.
- Afrobeat is often about feel-good music, but Tiwa wanted to break that mold:
- Musical Risks and Industry Doubt:
- Tiwa risked industry backlash by focusing on live instruments and vulnerable storytelling:
“People are like, in the world of TikTok, no one’s really gonna mess with this type of music… I wasn’t worried about streams or anything.” — Tiwa Savage [06:35]
- Tiwa risked industry backlash by focusing on live instruments and vulnerable storytelling:
- Album Process:
- It took two years to finish the album due to stop-start creative cycles and emotional labor.
“I would stop and start...I want to really do this type of project as R&B leaning, and I have to do it with my full chest.” — Tiwa Savage [09:31]
- It took two years to finish the album due to stop-start creative cycles and emotional labor.
2. Love, Heartbreak & Healing
- “I’m Done” and Heartbreak:
- Tiwa admits the song “I’m Done” reflects genuine uncertainty about loving again after deep pain.
“I really do [feel that way]. That place was dark...I'm scared that someone's going to come or the right person's going to come and I’m just going to project my trauma on them.” — Tiwa Savage [16:22]
- The song was the hardest to write and record; she skips it when listening to her own album.
“Even now when I listen to the album, I skip that… I haven’t been able to perform it.” — Tiwa Savage [25:18]
- Tiwa admits the song “I’m Done” reflects genuine uncertainty about loving again after deep pain.
- Therapy & Black/African Stigma:
- She openly shares about going to therapy to heal, defying cultural taboos around mental health.
“I still do [therapy]...We don’t talk about it a lot in my culture. In Nigeria it's like, what? No, just go to church.” — Tiwa Savage [18:07]
- She openly shares about going to therapy to heal, defying cultural taboos around mental health.
- Celibacy and Standards:
- Tiwa shares candidly that sex for her is tied to real love, revealing she has gone years celibate post-relationship until fully ready to trust again. [20:06]
3. Navigating Fame, Ageism & Misogyny
- Starting Late & Age Bias:
- Tiwa encourages late bloomers, having released her first song in her 30s:
“I resented my parents for so long for making me wait…but now looking at it...I did it in my 30s when I’m much grounded.” — Tiwa Savage [30:07]
- Faces discrimination from brands and festivals that try to box her as “icon” for older demographics.
“Young people really, like, they really mess with me a lot. And a lot of them don’t even know how old I am…” — Tiwa Savage [32:54]
- Tiwa encourages late bloomers, having released her first song in her 30s:
- On Misogyny & Double Standards:
- Tattoos, outspokenness, and even personal crises like her sex tape are judged harshly for women in her culture.
“Male artists are covered in tattoos and they’re like, yo, he’s a rockstar. For us, they said I’m gonna go to hell.” — Tiwa Savage [66:10]
- Tattoos, outspokenness, and even personal crises like her sex tape are judged harshly for women in her culture.
4. Industry, Collaborations, and Rivalries
- Not Just the “Queen of Afrobeats”:
- Tiwa embraces her title but wants others recognized too, especially as African artists are often unfairly lumped together.
“It’s a continent—we speak different languages!...Just because you’re from a certain place doesn’t mean you should only do that music.” — Tiwa Savage [13:04]
- Tiwa embraces her title but wants others recognized too, especially as African artists are often unfairly lumped together.
- Collaborating with Brandy and U.S. R&B Stars:
- She expresses awe at working with her idol, Brandy.
“I remembered when I was just, like, 13, 14, I had to just step out to be like, yo God, are you really doing this for me?” — Tiwa Savage [06:12]
- She expresses awe at working with her idol, Brandy.
- The “Big Three” & Gender in Afrobeats:
- Pushes back on the narrative that only Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido matter in the genre.
“This is a continent...we keep reducing it to three artists every single time...” — Tiwa Savage [58:52]
- Critiques the lack of women in these discussions, blaming cultural misogyny and industry gatekeeping.
“Women are still...undermined in my culture, so it’s obviously gonna trickle down into music.” — Tiwa Savage [66:10]
- Pushes back on the narrative that only Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido matter in the genre.
- Comparisons to Other Female Artists (Tyla, Tems, Ayra Starr):
- Addresses skin-color comparisons and fan-fueled rivalries in the industry.
“I saw that kind of coming with Ayra, and I’m like, nah, you guys are not gonna build this awkwardness between us.” — Tiwa Savage [61:51]
- Addresses skin-color comparisons and fan-fueled rivalries in the industry.
5. Personal Controversies & Handling Trauma
- Her leaked sex tape:
- Tiwa details the trauma and public shaming she faced, especially in Nigeria, where morality culture is strict—even as she was victimized by a partner’s breach of trust.
“They brought my son into it and said I was unfit mom...That hurt me more than the actual thing.” — Tiwa Savage [46:48]
- She tried to take control of the narrative by speaking on it directly in interviews, but was still accused of seeking attention or PR.
“Before you embarrass me...I'm just going to go on air and say, listen, something’s going to come out and they’re threatening me...” — Tiwa Savage [70:13]
- Tiwa details the trauma and public shaming she faced, especially in Nigeria, where morality culture is strict—even as she was victimized by a partner’s breach of trust.
- Relationship Rumors (Wizkid, Davido):
- Clarifies misunderstandings about rumored secret romances, specifying certain incidents were not about fellow artists like Wizkid.
“It’s not about Wizkid. I said the person was a public figure, but not an artist.” — Tiwa Savage [21:04]
- Responds to the estrangement with Davido, explaining a social media fallout tied to her friendship with his daughter’s mother.
“I guess I was at an event and she was too...He saw that and he took it as I was betraying him...that’s not the case.” — Tiwa Savage [54:51]
- Clarifies misunderstandings about rumored secret romances, specifying certain incidents were not about fellow artists like Wizkid.
6. Boundaries, Authenticity & Growth
- Learning to Say “No”:
- Tiwa describes personal and artistic growth—embracing authentic self-expression and refusing songs she doesn’t connect with.
“I used to be a people pleaser...I’ve learned how to just say no and...set boundaries.” — Tiwa Savage [36:50]
- Setting boundaries lost her friends and collaborators, but brought her peace.
- Tiwa describes personal and artistic growth—embracing authentic self-expression and refusing songs she doesn’t connect with.
- Empowering Other Artists—But With Wisdom:
- Discusses why she hasn’t signed artists herself; instead, she’s focusing on opening a music school with Berklee, offering scholarships, and developing talent beyond the stage.
“Everybody gets stuck on artists, but there are so many parts of music...that’s my way of helping people.” — Tiwa Savage [71:18]
- Discusses why she hasn’t signed artists herself; instead, she’s focusing on opening a music school with Berklee, offering scholarships, and developing talent beyond the stage.
7. Spirituality & Transformation
- Faith—A Source of Strength:
- Increased discipline in her spiritual life helped her heal and refocus.
“Now I’m spending time [with God]...it has been life-changing.” — Tiwa Savage [27:12]
- Increased discipline in her spiritual life helped her heal and refocus.
- Healing Message for Listeners:
- Hopes her album gives listeners validation and hope.
“Whatever they’re going through is valid, but also listen and know that you can get through it and heal.” — Tiwa Savage [74:41]
- Hopes her album gives listeners validation and hope.
8. Cultural Differences & Globalization
- Loving the Fresh Start in America:
- Tiwa enjoys reintroducing herself to U.S. audiences and escaping the weight of fame back home.
“It’s an opportunity...to reintroduce myself again and, like, learn from maybe stuff that I’ve done.” — Tiwa Savage [11:32]
- Tiwa enjoys reintroducing herself to U.S. audiences and escaping the weight of fame back home.
- Explaining Controversies Across Cultures:
- Recognizes the difference in reaction to scandals and therapy between Nigeria and America, especially regarding religion and gender.
NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS
-
On creating the album:
“I wasn’t worried about streams or anything. Like, seriously, I really wasn’t.” — Tiwa Savage [06:35]
-
On heartbreak:
“I’m scared that someone’s going to come or the right person’s going to come and I’m just going to project my trauma on them.” — Tiwa Savage [16:22]
-
On ageism:
“I want to be doing this till I’m 80. Like, I’m gonna keep going.” — Tiwa Savage [34:01]
-
On misogyny:
“Male artists are covered in tattoos and they’re like, yo, he’s a rockstar…for us, they said I’m gonna go to hell.” — Tiwa Savage [66:10]
-
On boundaries:
“When you set boundaries, it’s lonely. I never realized how many people I was going to lose by setting boundaries.” — Tiwa Savage [37:24]
-
On her future:
“If I wanted to do that [quit music], I would have had better lighting. I would have set it up right. ...If I really wanted to put that out.” — Tiwa Savage on rumors the sex tape was for PR [45:06]
-
On supporting female artists:
“No one has done, in terms of females, more songs with females than me. ...So you coming on and saying, I don’t support females, that’s already wrong.” — Tiwa Savage [67:07]
TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS
- Introduction & Album Context — [02:07–03:07]
- Making the Personal Album — [03:07–06:30]
- On Brandy’s Influence & Working Together — [05:07–06:03]
- Creative Process, Nashville Sessions — [06:35–07:23]
- Song "10%" Story (Studio, Heartbreak, Humor) — [07:23–08:59]
- Therapy & Healing Journey — [18:02–18:32]
- Addressing Public/Private Romance Rumors — [20:31–22:38]
- Sex Tape Story & Cultural Reactions — [45:06–48:21]
- Fallout with Davido and Industry Relationships — [50:40–55:29]
- Big Three Debate, Culture & Misogyny in Afrobeats — [58:52–66:11]
- Supporting (Not Competing With) Female Artists — [67:07–68:33]
- Giving Back: Music School & Scholarships — [71:11–72:31]
- Final Message of Healing & Hope — [74:32–75:41]
FINAL THOUGHTS & TAKEAWAYS
Tiwa Savage delivers a blend of radical honesty, humor, and introspection, offering listeners an intimate look at personal and professional growth through adversity. She challenges stereotypes—about genre, age, gender—and reclaims her narrative from both industry gatekeepers and public controversies. Tiwa’s journey is a testament to the power of authenticity, setting boundaries, and creative courage, making "This One Is Personal" as much a statement of artistic liberation as emotional healing.