Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress Tiwa Savage has stated that she has no plans to sign upcoming artists, citing the stress and responsibility involved in managing musicians.
Instead, the Somebody’s Son crooner expressed her desire to create an ecosystem where African artists can thrive independently.
In an interview with Forbes Africa on Thursday, Tiwa Savage explained that managing artists can be overwhelming, and she does not feel suited for the role.
“Everyone always asks me, ‘When will you sign an artiste?’ I don’t think I have the gift to sign another artiste, because artistes are stressful. I could just be sleeping, and then I will wake up and my artist is trending for something else,” she said.
“But I do have the gift to help, which is why I am trying to do the music school, where you can go and later sign to a label that can actually help you,” Tiwa Savage added.
Savage emphasized that African artists should prioritize building a thriving music industry at home rather than constantly seeking validation from international platforms.
She said, “Why are we trying to break into another market? We should build our own to be the one others try to break into.
“If we had the right infrastructure, affordable data, and investment, we would not have to chase validation elsewhere.”
Having built a career spanning Afrobeats, jazz, and even film production with her 2024 debut as an executive producer on Water and Garri, Savage is thinking beyond music. “I want to go into my mogul era – billionaire Tiwa Savage,” she declared.