Public conversations around motherhood and celebrity careers took a personal turn after Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage disclosed that the period following the birth of her son in 2015 was marked by emotional difficulty and professional strain. Speaking on a recent episode of the FlowWithKorty podcast, the artist recounted how learning during pregnancy that she was expecting a boy left her distressed and affected her ability to connect with her child in his early years.
Savage said she had hoped for a girl and struggled emotionally after discovering her baby’s gender, a challenge compounded by the physical and psychological changes she experienced after childbirth. She explained that the pressures of postpartum life coincided with setbacks in her career, including the loss of a major advertising campaign, which deepened her sense of disconnection at the time. “Honestly, I didn’t bond with my son for the first year or two,” she said, describing the period as one in which she felt overwhelmed by both motherhood and professional expectations.
The singer noted that her relationship with her son, Jamil Balogun, has since evolved, describing him as her closest companion. She also spoke about her approach to parenting, saying she is intentional about raising him to be kind and respectful, shaped in part by her own experiences in past relationships. Savage was married to music executive Tunji ‘TeeBillz’ Balogun between 2013 and 2018, and welcomed their son two years into the marriage.
During the interview, Savage also reflected on her personal life beyond motherhood, stating that most of her past relationships had been unhappy, with the exception of one former partner who has since died. The remarks formed part of a broader discussion on personal growth, parenting and the realities faced by women balancing family life with public careers.
