Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has openly shared how her preference for having a girl child affected her emotional connection with her son, Jamil Balogun, after his birth in 2015.
In a heartfelt conversation on the FlowWithKorty podcast, the 45-year-old singer revealed that she was deeply disappointed when she discovered she was expecting a boy — a moment that brought her to tears.
Savage explained that this disappointment, along with the physical and career challenges she faced after childbirth, made bonding with Jamil difficult during his early years. She recalled that her body didn’t “snap back” quickly, which impacted her confidence and even led to losing a major endorsement deal. At the time, she admitted she felt like her son “destroyed” her career.
“Honestly, I didn’t bond with my son for the first year or two. I always wanted a girl,” she said, adding that her son used to cry a lot, compounding her struggle.
However, Tiwa emphasized that with time, their relationship transformed. Today, she describes Jamil as her best friend and is intentional about raising him to be kind and respectful, especially toward women — a lesson shaped by her own life experiences.
She also reflected on her past relationships, noting that aside from one late partner, her romantic life has been challenging.