In a recent interview, Tiwa Savage addressed a title often attached to her name,“Queen of Afrobeats.” Rather than embracing it, she explained why she does not feel comfortable being framed that way. “Yeah, they call me the Queen of Afrobeats, but there are a lot of us that are Queens,” she said, adding that her music has always been about expression and growth, not crowns.
Tiwa’s career is filled with firsts. From signing with international labels to performing on some of the world’s biggest stages, she has helped push Afrobeats into new spaces. Songs like Kele Kele Love, All Over, and Somebody’s Son have become cultural touchpoints, influencing a generation of artists who came after her. Those achievements often lead fans and media outlets to describe her as the “queen” of the genre.
When asked about the title, Tiwa chose a different stance.
“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,” she explained.
For her, the music matters more than labels, and her priority remains creating songs that connect with audiences on a personal and cultural level.
Her words open up a larger conversation about how we talk about pioneers in African music. Titles like “king” or “queen” carry weight, but they can also confine an artist to a fixed image. Tiwa herself acknowledged that her early breakthroughs may explain why the tag has followed her.
There are a lot of us. I think it’s just because I was one of the first female artists in Nigeria to break through. I do appreciate that. I’m not taking it for granted.
What comes through in the interview is her grounded perspective. After more than a decade at the center of the movement, Tiwa Savage is still redefining what success looks like. Her choice to reject the crown does not reduce her influence; it reflects an artist who values the freedom to evolve without being boxed in by titles.
