There was a time that no one could have imagined Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay would fight.But today that is exactly what is happening.
The singers were not exactly close friends, but they aren’t enemies either. If you aren’t familiar, you’ll soon see why the feud between Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay is the prototypical supremacy beef between two talented divas battling for their share of attention in the ever competitive Nigerian entertainment industry.
Tayo cuts drama: June 2021
On June 8, 2021, the duo of Seyi Shay and Tiwa Savage met each other at Tayo Cuts, Triplet Studio, Lekki Phase One. It is a popular health and beauty salon that specializes in short hair treatment. Savage was there, already getting her hair done while Shay was there to get her hair done for her Idols appearance on Sunday, June 13, 2021.
According to Shay:”Something was telling me today was going to have some curve balls in it.From the gym I went to the salon.I first went to the nail salon and then to the salon, Tayo’s Cut to arrange my hair for Idols on Sunday.As I got to the salon I saw Tiwa.People were already looking at me and looking at her. So I went up to her, she was already sitting under the dryer .I said ‘Hey Tiwa, how are you’?
She said:’Hey hi how are you’, I said :’I am good’”
How the seeds of beef was planted
After working with producer Harmony Samuels in Los Angeles, Tiwa Savage returned to Nigeria with her manager and ex-husband, Tunji ‘Teebilz’ Balogun ready to make a name for herself.
The ‘Koroba’ crooner was signed by Flytime CEO, Cecil Hammond. It was at this time that Savage and Davido briefly became roommates. While in Nigeria, Hammond pitched Savage to some producers including Don Jazzy, but the arrangement didn’t work out.
But by August 2010, Savage’s National Anthem became the toast of Nigeria. A little while later with financial push from Hammond, she went back to Los Angeles to work with Harmony Samuels and came back with ‘Kele Kele Love,’ which became an instant hit song. From there, she waxed stronger and later joined the Don Jazzy led Mavin Records.
After cutting ties with Tiwa Savage, Hammond signed on Seyi Shay to replicate Savage’s success. Amazingly,Shay also shares ties with Harmony Samuels, who produced her first single, ‘No Lele.’ Under the guidance of Hammond, Shay rose and became a household name.Then the comparison began.
2016: Seyi Shay denies knowing Tiwa Savage
During the clash between the stars on the 8th of June 2021, Tiwa Savage made references to interviews Seyi Shay granted where the songstress dissed her.
In 2016, Shay granted an interview where she stated that she does not know Tiwa Savage, at least not personally.
“I don’t really know her”, she told media personality, Ebuka Uchendu.
Asked if they have met before, she said “of course… like i said, I don’t really know her personally, i don’t have many friends in the music industry. They’re my colleagues and we say hello we say goodbye, we invite each other to different things and functions, that’s how it is with the females in the industry.”
2019: Fvckyouchallenge, straw that broke camel’s back
In April 2019, Seyi Shay fired shots at Tiwa Savage in her version of Kizz Daniel’s viral #FvckYouChallenge.
She crooned: ’You say you be my sister, but you wan collect my lover
You be deceiver, olofofo heart robber
Na why I no dey fuck you anymore
I no get time for you anymore
You know I’m not Savage, I dey pay my bills
You no go see my name for the Xscape
But [Prostitute] come be your hobby
Na so you come take first rate their hobby…
Shay also appeared to take shots at Savage for allegedly trying to block other women in the industry.
She ended her verse with;
You see say, fuck you
Teni, fuck you
Simi, not you
[Inaudible], fuck you
Sade, fuck you
Funke, fuck you
Asa, fuck you
Acetune, fuck you “.
What celebrities are saying
As Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay came close to attacking one another physically, a few of their colleagues have taken to social media to share their opinions on the incident.
Nollywood actress, Wunmi Toriola wrote: “Please don’t curse with children.I know some people will accuse you and you will feel pained”.
Daddy Freeze said:” This was a private conversation that had no business surfacing here.Who recorded this and put it on social media?”
Do2dtun, popular on air personality said: “The issue with this friendship thing is everyone just believes we have to be friends to cohabit. We all dont have to be friends to cohabit. Let us just respect each other.. it that is out of the window then we have nothing to talk about.. period!”