Afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage is in full celebration mode as she marks the 12th anniversary of her iconic debut album Once Upon A Time, a project that laid the foundation for her global rise and redefined the space for women in the Nigerian music industry.
Released on July 3, 2013, Once Upon A Time was a genre-blending masterclass that married Afropop, R&B, and soulful ballads in a way no Nigerian female artist had done before. The album featured smash hits like “Kele Kele Love,” “Love Me (3x),” “Eminado,” and “Without My Heart,” with collaborations from Don Jazzy, Flavour N’abania, Iceberg Slim, and Sarkodie.
Reflecting on the album’s 12-year milestone, Tiwa took to social media with an emotional message:
“Wow…. My debut album Once Upon A Time turns 12 years already?? This album was the beginning of so many milestones for me. It’s actually very emotional for me but I’m so grateful to God, and to every single person that’s stood by me since day one… I poured my heart into it and now, 12 years later, I’m still here, still standing and ready to release another iconic body of work…”
Now streamed over 100 million times globally, Once Upon A Time not only dominated Nigerian airwaves upon release, but also introduced Savage to a worldwide audience, earning her multiple awards and a place among Africa’s leading musical exports.
In her message, Tiwa teased her upcoming album titled This One Is Personal, promising a project that returns to the raw honesty and fearless spirit that birthed her debut:
“A project that’s raw, heartfelt, creating something I’ve always wanted to create, not influenced by streams or trends, just like my first album… Still feels like the beginning, maybe because the best is still yet to come.”
From being the first African female artist to sell out London’s Indigo O2, to becoming a Universal Music Group signee, performing at King Charles’ coronation, and standing tall among Afrobeats’ biggest stars, Tiwa has consistently broken barriers and rewritten the rules.
With This One Is Personal on the way, fans are gearing up for another chapter from the woman who helped shape the global sound of Afrobeats.
If Once Upon A Time was the intro, this next era promises to be her boldest story yet.
