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Tiwa Savage on the ‘Queen of Afrobeats’ Title: ‘It Makes Me Uncomfortable’
Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has addressed the long-standing title of Queen of Afrobeats, a label that fans and media have widely associated with her over the years.
In a recent interview with Apple Music’s Ebro, the award-winning singer admitted that while she values the recognition, she personally finds the crown “uncomfortable” and would rather be celebrated for her artistry than boxed into a single tag.
“Yeah, they call me the Queen of Afrobeats, but there are a lot of us that are Queens,” Tiwa said. “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. I didn’t come up with it. 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.”
Tiwa emphasized that music is not about hierarchies or titles but about creativity, growth, and community. For her, Afrobeats is a shared movement driven by multiple voices — both male and female.
Her comments have since sparked mixed reactions online. While many fans maintain that she has rightfully earned the crown for paving the way for women in Afrobeats, others agree with her perspective that the “Queen” label can be limiting in a genre defined by diversity and constant evolution.
Tiwa Savage says she’s Uncomfortable with being called the “Queen of Afrobeats.” pic.twitter.com/9FND5mDOnX
— HYPETRIBE (@hypetribeng) September 11, 2025