Tiwa Savage Says She Once Struggled with Her African Identity

Global music star Tiwa Savage has refuted claims that Afrobeats is experiencing its lowest performance in two decades, insisting that the genre remains one of the fastest-growing in the world.

Her response comes after music executives, including Paul Okoye (Paulo) and DJ Big N, suggested in recent interviews and online discussions that Afrobeats’ global influence was waning.

Speaking at the Unstoppable Africans event, Savage asserted that Afrobeats is not declining but expanding its reach across global charts and sold-out tours.

“Afrobeats is the fastest-growing genre in the world. We kind of created it with nothing — no support, no infrastructure, no real belief even from our own people initially,” she said.

Reflecting on the genre’s cultural impact, the “Somebody’s Son” singer recalled how, growing up in London, she once felt ashamed of being African. She noted that the rise of Afrobeats has since transformed global perceptions of Africa and inspired pride among Africans.

“I remember growing up in London and I was not happy being African. But now I’m so proud because of how big Afrobeats is growing,” she said.

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“There was a time people said Afrobeats would have its 15 minutes of fame and fade away. But we are still here. We are not slowing down. We are filling stadiums and getting the biggest songs on the charts.”

Savage added that Afrobeats has achieved remarkable global success despite limited industry support or infrastructure, describing African artists as “unstoppable.”

“As much as they are trying to quiet us down, the music is not going anywhere. We are Africans, and we are unstoppable,” she declared.

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Her comments reinforce the growing sentiment among African artists that Afrobeats has evolved from a regional sound into a dominant global movement — one built on creativity, resilience, and cultural pride.