Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage recently opened up about her initial feelings after giving birth to her son, revealing that she struggled to bond with him because she had hoped for a daughter. In an interview with YouTuber Korty EO, Savage admitted that learning she was having a boy left her in tears.
She shared that her early experiences as a mother were challenging, especially because the changes in her body after childbirth affected her appearance and led to professional setbacks. Savage recalled losing a campaign with Pepsi due to how she looked post-pregnancy, which made her feel as though her son had disrupted her career.
“Honestly, I didn’t connect with my son during the first year or two. I always wanted a girl, and when they told me it was a boy, I started crying. He cried a lot, my body hadn’t bounced back, and I looked awful. I was supposed to do a Pepsi campaign, but they turned me down. I felt like this boy had ruined me. But today, he’s my best friend,” she reflected.
The singer also emphasized the lessons she teaches her son about respecting women, drawing from her own experiences in difficult relationships. “I always tell him, your mum suffered, so make sure you treat any girl like a queen. Raising him to be a kind man is very important. He’ll make mistakes he’s not perfect but at his core, I want him to be compassionate,” Savage explained.
Tiwa Savage welcomed her son, Jamil Balogun, in July 2015 with her then-husband Tunji Balogun. He celebrated his 10th birthday in July 2025.