I Wanted a Girl Child, Struggled to Bond With My Son – Tiwa Savage

Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has opened up about the emotional struggle she faced bonding with her son, Jamil Balogun, after his birth in 2015, revealing that she had strongly hoped for a girl child.

Speaking on a recent episode of the FlowWithKorty podcast, the 45-year-old singer said learning during pregnancy that she was having a boy left her deeply disappointed.

She also spoke candidly about the challenges she faced after childbirth, including postpartum struggles and losing a major endorsement deal because of changes to her body. According to Tiwa Savage, that period made her feel as though motherhood had negatively affected her career, contributing to the emotional distance she initially felt toward her son.

“Honestly, I didn’t bond with my son for the first year or two. I always wanted a girl. They told me it was a boy, and I started crying.

“So, when he came he was always crying and my body didn’t snap back. I looked horrible. I was supposed to do a campaign with Pepsi at the time and they turned me away. And I just thought this boy has destroyed me. But now, he is my best friend,” she said.

Tiwa Savage was married to music executive Tunji ‘TeeBillz’ Balogun between 2013 and 2018, and the couple welcomed Jamil in 2015.

She said her experiences have shaped how she is raising her son, stressing the importance of kindness and respect, especially toward women, due to her own painful relationship history.

“I always tell him, your mum suffered oo, make sure you treat any girl like a queen. It is very important for me to raise him as a good man. He is going to make mistakes, he is not perfect. But at the core of him, I want him to be kind,” she added.

In the emotional interview, the singer also reflected on her past relationships, saying most of them ended badly, except one with a late partner.

“There is hardly any relationship I would look back at and see anything positive. They are all d***! Actually, there is one, but he passed away. May his soul rest in peace. He was incredible,” she said.

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