I Wasn’t Proud to Be African — Tiwa Savage

Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage has dismissed claims that Afrobeats is experiencing its lowest point in two decades, insisting that the genre remains vibrant and unstoppable.

Her comments come in response to concerns raised by prominent music industry figures, including Paul Okoye (Paulo) and DJ Big N, who suggested in recent interviews and social media posts that Afrobeats is losing momentum.

Speaking at the Unstoppable Africans event, Savage countered those claims, asserting that Afrobeats continues to expand globally, dominating charts and selling out major venues worldwide.

The singer also reflected on the genre’s powerful cultural influence, admitting that she once struggled with her African identity while growing up in London — a sentiment that has now been replaced by deep pride due to the global success of African music.

“Afrobeats is the fastest-growing genre in the world,” Savage said. “We built it from nothing — no structure, no real support, not even belief from our own people at the beginning.”

She recalled,

“I remember growing up in London and not being happy to be African. But today, I’m extremely proud because of how far Afrobeats has come.”

Savage dismissed past predictions that Afrobeats would be a passing trend.

“People once said Afrobeats would have just 15 minutes of fame and fade away. But we’re still here — selling out stadiums and topping global charts.”

She concluded with a powerful affirmation of African identity:

“I heard that one in every four Black people is either Nigerian or African. So we’re not going anywhere. No matter how much they try to silence us, our music isn’t going anywhere. We are Africans — and we are unstoppable.”