Artist Health

AML Celebrity Divorce Files: Tiwa Savage v. T-Billz Rumored Divorce, “Evil” Bloggers or the Truth?

Tiwa Savage v T-BillzIn case you have been hiding under a rock, the internet has been inundated with stories about T-Billz and Tiwa Savage splitting. The two just recently got married (April 2014 in Dubai). I have ignored most of it but as it continues to trickle in and become even more rampant, I am left asking whether it is a case of “evil” bloggers or the truth, given the gravity of the allegations.

The allegations are that: a) there has been a history of domestic violence prior to the marriage and during the marriage between the two; b) T-Billz’s, Tiwa’s newly wedded husband allegedly just impregnated a woman; c) there were issues with mismanagement of her funds in their artist-manager relationship;  d) Tiwa has since replaced T-Billz as her manager hiring a new manager; and e) Tiwa has moved out of her marital home. It is also alleged that Tiwa in fact has no stake in 323 Entertainment, her label that we all believed she co-owned with her husband prior to marriage.

Also stated is the alleged lack of a wedding ring as Tiwa makes recent appearances at events, in addition to her  solo appearances at these events, including performances in foreign shores.

Time will tell whether this is mean spirited gossip by ‘evil’ bloggers or the truth.  The queen of gossip, Linda Ikeji aka Nigeria’s TMZ is yet to report it so let’s see.

In the mean time, I want to bring the attention of everyone reading this to the issue of domestic violence, not just in Nigerian society which we are all aware of, but in Nigeria’s music industry.

There is an alleged veil of silence in the industry with a few  prominent women in music who have been and are currently being abused by fellow professionals, particularly their managers. The managers are names I have  a very hard time believing are perpetrating these criminal acts; especially because of what they stand to lose as business owners and recognized names in the industry. Nevertheless, the stories persists.

Accordingly, I am concerned and but for not having the exact specific documentations i.e. photos and other evidence and the affected women willing to come forward, I would have since shared these stories about these women with you all in hopefully a constructive way where we begin a paradigm shift with these kinds of rampant abuses in the industry. I think eventually we will get there with changing the tide, it is only a matter of time.

For the T-Billz situation, I wish Tiwa and T-Billz well and find it hard to believe T-Billz is in fact abusive, given very credible stories and documentation evidencing he has helped abused women in the industry get out of abusive situations. Nevertheless,  let’s see if this is a case of the “evil bloggers” concocting false stories or it is in fact true.

What I will say to all industry female artists is, no music career or passion for music is worth any form of abuse. If you are in an abusive situation, you really need to look deep within and find the courage to leave. There are non-profits in Nigeria to help you if you are uncomfortable going to family and friends for fear of stigma or that they will not believe you or worse, force you to stay in the situation.

Really, please get help. Please watch the videos below to obtain more information both in Nigeria and the USA on how to obtain help if you are in a domestic violence situation. NOTE: Over 50% of Nigerian women in Nigeria are allegedly victims of domestic violence. Quite appalling statistics and a real need for a systemic change.

-Uduak

Signs of Abuse

Africa Music Law™

AFRICA MUSIC LAW™ (AML) is a pioneering music business and entertainment law website, livestream and podcast show empowering the African artist and Africa's rapidly evolving entertainment industry through its brilliant music business and entertainment law commentary and analysis, industry news, and exclusive interviews.

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ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Credited for several firsts in the fashion and entertainment industry, Uduak Oduok (Ms. Uduak) is a fashion and entertainment lawyer, speaker, visionary, gamechanger, trailblazer, and recognized thought leader, for her work on Africa’s emerging global fashion and entertainment markets, and the niche practice of fashion law in the United States. She is also the founder of ‘Africa Music Law,’ an industry go-to music business and law blog and podcast show empowering African artists. Her work in the creative and legal industries has earned her numerous awards and recognitions, including an award from the American University Washington College of Law for her “legal impact in the field of intellectual property in Africa." She has also taught as an Adjunct Professor at several institutions in the United States. For more information, visit her at https://msuduak.com.

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