Julius OkorieNigerian singer, songwriter and actress, Tiwa Savage, has credited ex-hubby and former manager, Tunji Balogun, better known as Teebillz, for her rebranded fashion sense.
Savage, while featuring in a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast hosted by Joey Akan, revealed that she was not a sexy diva initially, but a tomboy with baggy clothes identity before venturing into music.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Koroba crooner explained that during her days as a songwriter abroad, she wore baggy clothes before meeting Teebillz, who rebranded her into a sex symbol after relocating to Nigeria to pursue a singing career.
She said, “The sexiness in my 2024 single ‘Wanted’ music video felt groundbreaking at that time. Because I just got married and there’s a lot of press saying, ‘She’s not going to be desirable anymore. She’s finished. Her time is gone. There are new people on the scene.’ So, I was just like, let me do something crazy.
“That was me being rebellious. I was like, Oh! You guys think I’m not sexy anymore? To be honest, that wasn’t the aim, to just try to be sexy. Because naturally, I’m not. Naturally, I’m a tomboy.
But again, TJ [Tunji Balogun] saw that there was a gap in the market and he was just like, you’ve to lose weight, you’ve to go to the gym, you’ve to start waxing your eyebrows. You’ve to start wearing wigs. He literally changed my whole appearance. I was not like that in L.A. when he met me.
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“I used to be a songwriter in the studio wearing baggy jeans and t-shirt. And he literally changed that. I don’t think that he thought there was going to be a backlash. He was just like, let’s give them the African Rihanna or Beyoncé. I was like, okay, let’s go ahead. And we came back to Nigeria, but my fashion sense attracted criticism. Then, I ran back to L.A.
“I was really bad. I would go to shows and I would be waiting backstage and they wouldn’t call me because maybe the governor’s wife had said I can’t come up or they’d say, make sure you don’t wear any of those your skimpy dresses. I’m not making this up.
There was a time, ‘Love Me’ was banned on TV. I was discouraged. I remembered Bizzle called me and told me ladies were loving me, so I came back to Nigeria. I’ve told the story where I went to all the labels and they all said no, Storm Records, Mo’Hits, Banky W’s EME, everyone.”
All that like they say is now history as the Afrobeat Goddess has since established herself as one of the most sort after musical idols of the entertainment industry at home and in the diaspora, with estimated social media followership of 4.5million people.
Meanwhile, fellow singer and songwriter, Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, better known as Simi, has told anyone who cares to listen to resist the temptation to live for the love and approval of others. The “Joromi” inventor emphasised the importance of staying grounded and focused on core values such as truth, kindness, honesty, and faith.
She underscored the danger of seeking validation solely from others, as their love and appreciation can be fleeting.
She rather encouraged living by principles and prioritising humility, particularly when receiving widespread love and appreciation.
Simi who warned against being asked “Jamb Question” (Remix) (featuring Falz) wrote on X: “Don’t live for the love of people. It’s fickle as f..k. Live for truth. Be kind. Be honest. Live for God. And when people do show you love en-masse, don’t bask in it too long. You MAY acknowledge it, but keep it moving. People forget, and if you forget that, you will suffer.”
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
