Popular Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has opened up about one of the harsh realities female artistes face in the music industry: being pressured to exchange sex for opportunities.

Speaking at a panel organised by Entertainment Week Africa, Savage recounted experiences where she was told to meet influential male executives in order to secure bookings for shows.

She revealed a particularly painful experience in which she lost an endorsement deal because she refused to go on a holiday to Dubai with the co-owner of a company. Savage explained:
"I had been told that if I don’t go and see ‘this chairman’ personally, I would not be put on a show. I lost an endorsement because I refused to go to Dubai with a man who is one of the owners of the company."

Reflecting on the incident, Savage said it made her realise that some executives valued her body over her talent:
"That was when I realised that they don’t value my talent but my body, which I was only flaunting as part of branding. It ended up hurting me because that is all they were seeing."

Her revelations highlight a broader issue in the entertainment industry, underscoring the challenges women face while trying to succeed based on their skills and artistry rather than compromising their dignity.