Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has revealed that her widely admired image as a sultry music diva was largely influenced by her ex-husband and former manager, Tunji Balogun, popularly known as Teebillz.
Speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast with Joey Akan, Tiwa reflected on her early days in the music industry, describing herself as a “tomboy” who wore “baggy jeans and t-shirts” while working behind the scenes as a songwriter in Los Angeles.
According to the singer, it was Teebillz who encouraged her to embrace a more glamorous look and helped her shape a bolder image that aligned with the demands of the entertainment industry.
“TJ saw there was a gap in the market and said, ‘You’ve got to lose weight, go to the gym, start waxing your eyebrows, wear wigs’, he literally changed my whole appearance,” she said.
Tiwa noted that this transformation was not aimed at creating controversy but rather to break barriers and fill a unique space in Afrobeats that was lacking a confident, sexy female icon.
She recalled how her 2014 video for ‘Wanted’ sparked intense media conversations, especially since it came shortly after her marriage. The backlash was sharp, but the singer saw it as an act of rebellion against public doubt over her continued relevance and appeal.
“There was a lot of press saying, ‘She’s finished. She just got married. There are new girls on the scene.’ So I did something wild. It wasn’t even about being sexy, because I’m not naturally sexy, I’m a tomboy,” she explained.
Tiwa also revealed the challenges she faced after rebranding. Her new look attracted criticism in Nigeria, and she even faced restrictions at events, with some organisers advising her not to wear “skimpy dresses” or outright refusing to let her perform.
“I’d be backstage, and they wouldn’t call me. They’d say the governor’s wife doesn’t want me to perform or to make sure I don’t wear any of ‘those dresses.’ There was a time ‘Love Me’ got banned from TV. I was discouraged,” she added.
Despite early rejection from major Nigerian labels like Storm Records, Mo’Hits, and EME, Tiwa persevered. Encouragement from industry players like Bizzle Osikoya and love from fans gave her the push to return home and stake her claim.
Tiwa and Teebillz got married in 2013 and welcomed their son Jamal in 2015. The couple officially split in 2018 after a tumultuous period marked by public allegations of infidelity and personal struggles.
Today, Tiwa Savage stands tall as a trailblazer in Nigerian music, not just because of her sound, but also because of her fearless reinvention and refusal to be boxed in by societal norms.
