How I was told to visit ‘Chairman’ before getting shows – Tiwa Savage

Nigerian music superstar, Tiwa Savage, has opened up on one of the biggest struggles faced by women in the entertainment industry, the pressure to exchange s*x for opportunities.

Speaking at a panel session during Entertainment Week Africa, Tiwa revealed that she has experienced several cases where male executives attempted to take advantage of her before granting her access to shows, gigs and deals.

According to her, some influential figures insisted she must visit them privately before she could be added to certain lineups.

The singer also disclosed that she once lost a major endorsement deal because she refused to travel to Dubai with the company’s co-owner.

Tiwa said the encounter made her realize that many of these executives valued her body more than her actual artistry.

She said:

“I had been told that if I don’t go and see ‘this chairman’ personally, I would not be put on a show.

I lost an endorsement because I refused to go to Dubai with a man who is one of the owners of the company.

“That was when I realised that they don’t value my talent but my body, which I was only flaunting as part of branding. It ended up hurting me because that is all they were seeing.”