The coming out of Tiwa Savage 

Nice eyes, a beautiful body and an audacious combination of singing, dancing, music and sizzle; Tiwa Savage, performing artiste and superstar. Truth be told, whenever she is doing her thing on stage, save for her sometimes near over the top sexuality, she is a bundle of talent, a man’s dream, a woman’s wanna be and a fan’s delightful persona.

Tiwa Savage, this superstar, this presence, this talent fell to shambolic earth last weekend in salacious stories put out by her husband in that stratosphere that has become the home of the young, the restless, the brilliant and more often than not, the home of on-line bandits and e- thugs.

It is more to the last group that Tee-Billz, Tiwa’s husband chose to denigrate his wife, hanging her up as meat for wolves and cannibals. At first I thought it was bad until I found out by actually reading it that it was unpardonable, gutter language, gutter stories, filth at its very best dished out by a man whom she gave her heart, one that must have been solicited, begged for, ogled at, by many a man – some richer, some better, some worse and a lot of her fans, rich and poor, good and bad. Things of the heart cannot be explained with a wave of the hand. They are deeper, more profound and a lot of times befuddling. So Tiwa gave her heart to Tee Billz and in Dubai when they got married, he obviously gave his heart to her.

Let’s spool back for a moment. Isn’t it tragic that the very internet where she became popular in Nigeria (Kele Kele Love) is where her life is almost been destroyed? Recall that the song Kele Kele love had its video online and was liked by many Nigerians before she came home to claim her musical prize. Tiwa immediately became a hot item and became even more so under Don Jazzy’s label where her career soared. Now a well known face at most shows nationwide and endorsing multi brand products, Tiwa, described as the first lady of the Mavin label, is the female musician to beat. She is hot, right here, right now!

Let us return to her marriage to Tee Billz. First he was her manager. You know Tiwa lived abroad before and needed her way around so she kind of met Tee Billz, rugged and popular manager, well known, OC grounds, Lagos boy who understands the Lagos hustle. In addition he was good-looking, a man’s man, ladies man, man about town. That kind of guy that is addictive until he becomes abusive. Then she married him and the rest they say is history.

We must of course return to the moment. Tiwa has been very successful. Her husband, although has always been a big boy, is now an even bigger boy. Tiwa is successful, the now better known member of the family. Then there are cracks. Then there are notes, accusations, instability, emotional trouble which finally culminates in last weekend’s terrible state of affairs. Don jazzy, Tu face, Dr. Sid…big names in the music industry; all of them he accused of having affairs with his wife. The first is Tiwa’s music label chair, her boss. The second, a music legend, who Tee Billz accuses of having an adulterous relationship, then commends his wife, Mrs. Tu face for feeding him. Dr. Sid, also accused, co-member of the Mavin label.

For a drowning man, down on his luck, sacked as his wife’s manager and whose whose wife is successful, this is his revenge. I do not subscribe to adultery but the facts of this matter are yet unproven. Over the years I have watched men in Tee Billz position throw the adultery card. It’s not pretty. Often times, its not true.

Tiwa is broken but not dead, so she rose to her own defence. According to her, Tee Billz – her husband – is a drug addict, spend thrift, lives large and she is servicing all his debts. She says she has been covering up for him. With a son between them, these are not good times.

My spouse always says when God chooses to bless a family, he does not ask the family who he should bless. He blesses whosoever he chooses and it may not be the man. Many men cannot manage this and cannot deal with the success of their wives. True, it can be difficult but the couple must learn to manage it well. The wife must give her husband his due and the man must respect his wife, not putting her down at all times especially in public.

Did Tiwa make a bad choice? She admits Tee billz hustled for her but has been abusive. She says it’s now officially over.  Most women do not have the courage to even speak up in an abusive relationship because of the stigma and sometimes this can lead to fatalities. This is Tiwa’s coming of age, her illumination, her moment of zen. No one should ever drown his wife, the mother of his child in the mud. In all of this, Tiwa, despite the accusations, is looking better than Tee Billz. While the accusations are not good, Tee Billz says his account was hacked.

Wow! Now look who is talking!

Eugenia Abu