Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has offered a rare and deeply personal account of how motherhood nearly derailed her career, admitting that the birth of her son in 2015 triggered one of the most difficult periods of her life, both professionally and emotionally.
In an emotional interview with content creator Korty EO, the 45-year-old singer spoke candidly about the aftermath of welcoming her son, Jamil, describing the experience as a moment when she feared everything she had built was slipping away.
Savage said the physical changes that followed childbirth, coupled with the industry’s unforgiving standards, led to professional rejection almost immediately. She recalled losing endorsement opportunities and feeling sidelined at a critical point in her career.
“When he came… my body didn’t snap back. I looked horrible. I was supposed to do a campaign with Pepsi… and they turned me away. I just thought this boy has destroyed me,” she said.
Beyond the professional setbacks, the award-winning artist admitted she struggled emotionally in the early years of motherhood and did not form an immediate bond with her son, an admission she acknowledged is rarely voiced publicly.
“Honestly, I didn’t bond with my son for the first year or two,” Savage said. “I always wanted a girl. They told me it was a boy, and I started crying.”
She explained that the pressure to return to peak physical form and maintain relevance in a competitive industry intensified her emotional distance during that period, reinforcing the widely held but seldom discussed belief that motherhood can be a “career-killer” for female entertainers.
However, Savage said the relationship between her and Jamil has since evolved profoundly. Now aged 10, she describes him as her closest companion and strongest supporter, stressing that their bond is genuine and not curated for public display.
“He’s my best friend,” she said, adding that her approach to parenting is shaped by her own experiences of heartbreak and people-pleasing.
“I always tell him, ‘Your mum suffered oo, make sure you treat any girl like a queen.’ At the core of him, I want him to be kind.”
Jamil, who appears alongside his mother in the feature, offered a strikingly mature perspective on her career, urging her to continue performing despite past doubts. “Don’t retire. We still need you,” he told her. “Just push yourself to the limit.”
The interview also featured emotional remarks from Jamil’s nanny, a Philippine national who has worked with the family for nearly a decade. Fighting back tears, she praised Savage’s discipline and humility, describing her not as a celebrity but as a committed parent and employer.
“Madame Tiwa is the best employer,” she said. “She never spoils a child… I’m still longing to stay with them longer.”
Reflecting on her journey, Savage likened her survival in the industry to a phoenix rising from ashes, noting that she began her solo career in her early thirties and has repeatedly had to rebuild herself.
She also revealed that she recently took her first-ever solo vacation, spending a week alone in the Maldives, a milestone she described as a radical act of self-care.
“I have never even been to a restaurant alone,” she admitted.
Despite the setbacks, Savage said she has come to embrace resilience as a defining part of her story.
“A phoenix rises out of its ashes,” she said. “I’m still here.”
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