Why Tiwa Savage Rejects the Title ‘Queen of Afrobeats’

Nigerian superstar Tiwa Savage has openly expressed that she is not comfortable being labeled as the “Queen of Afrobeats.” According to her, the title carries heavy responsibilities and does not fairly represent the contributions of other female artists who are also shaping the global Afrobeats movement.

In a candid conversation with Apple Music’s Ebro, Tiwa Savage explained that while she appreciates the love from fans who call her the Queen of Afrobeats, she does not personally accept or embrace the tag. She believes it creates unnecessary pressure and places her on a pedestal she never asked to be on.

“Yeah, they call me the Queen of Afrobeats, but there are a lot of us that are Queens. 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,” Savage explained.

She further clarified that although she values the recognition, she does not believe in monopolizing such a grand title. Tiwa Savage highlighted that the reason fans often associate her with the “Queen” status is because she was among the first female artists in Nigeria to break through internationally.

“So, I don’t accept it. But I appreciate it. It didn’t come from me. I think it’s just because I was one of the first female artists in Nigeria to breakthrough. I do appreciate that, and I’m not taking it for granted,” she added.

The singer’s response shows her humility and respect for the wider Afrobeats community. Afrobeats has become a global sound, with several female musicians playing pivotal roles in shaping and pushing it to the world stage. By rejecting the crown, Tiwa Savage reminds fans that music is not a one-woman show, but a collective effort.

Her statement sparks an important conversation about representation in music and the dangers of attaching singular titles to one artist in a genre that thrives on collaboration and diversity.