Tiwa Savage has revealed that bonding with her son, Jamil, was a challenge, admitting she was not excited when she discovered he was a boy following his birth in 2015.
In an interview with Korty EO, which aired on January 18, 2026, Tiwa Savage explained that her desire for a girl-child, coupled with the challenges of postpartum life, including losing a major campaign deal due to changes in her appearance, made her feel as if her son had ‘destroyed’ her career, but now he is her best friend.
“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,” Tiwa said.
The Nigerian singer also shared that she is focused on raising her son, Jamil, to be kind and respectful, teaching him to treat women well based on her past experiences.
“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.
Watch the video below:
“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. But now, that’s my best friend.”
— Tiwa Savage talks about her son, Jamil Balogun.pic.twitter.com/8kADjty9OK
— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) January 18, 2026
“I always tell him, You mum suffered oo, make sure you treat any girl like a queen”
— Tiwa savage to Jamil🥺🥺 pic.twitter.com/9yWxQweH6p
— Dami’ Adenuga (@DAMIADENUGA) January 18, 2026
Meanwhile watch GhanaWeb’s exclusive interview with Ghanaian musician/comedian David Oscar Dogbe
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