Nigerian music icon Tiwa Savage has said she does not embrace the popular tag “Queen of Afrobeats,” insisting the title should be shared among the many women who have shaped the genre.
Speaking during an interview with Apple Music’s Ebro, Savage admitted that while she appreciates fans for giving her the label, she finds it uncomfortable and feels it does not capture the collective contributions of other female artists.
“Yeah, they call me the Queen of Afrobeats, but there are a lot of us that are Queens,” she explained. “Personally, I don’t like that tag, it’s uncomfortable because I feel like if I start accepting it, I need to be humble and secondly, it doesn’t make sense to me. So, I don’t accept it. But I appreciate it.”
Savage, who became one of the first Nigerian women to break into the global music scene, believes the moniker stuck because of her early success rather than her choosing it.
“I think it’s just because I was one of the first female artists in Nigeria to breakthrough. I do appreciate that. I’m not taking it for granted,” she added.
Her remarks have stirred debate among fans about female representation in Afrobeats, with many pointing out the influence of contemporaries like Yemi Alade, Tems, and Ayra Starr in carrying the sound to global audiences.
Savage, widely regarded as one of Africa’s most successful performers, continues to headline major festivals and collaborate with international stars while championing Afrobeats on the world stage.
