Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage features in her acting debut with the film "Water & Garri," showcasing a unique musical style.
"For me, acting was my initial passion before music," she told CNN's Larry Madowo during a recent interview in Lagos.
At the age of 44, the multi-talented Nigerian artist has brought her dreams to life. Her highly anticipated debut movie, "Water & Garri," premiered on Prime Video on May 10, marking her foray into acting.
The project was co-created by Savage and directed by her long-term video director Meji Alabi. In collaboration with Everything Savage, Unbound Studios, and JM Films, this film is a brilliant blend of their work.
The idea for "Water & Garri" came from Savage's intention to create a visual album for her 2021 EP with the same name. Initially, it was supposed to be a short film; however, it evolved and transformed into a unique entity of its own.
Penned by Comfort Emmanuel, the movie is set in a fictional town on the Cape Coast of Ghana and showcases the story of Aisha (Savage), a devoted fashion designer who returns to her hometown following a family tragedy after a decade in the US. Upon her return, she realizes that her once familiar environment has undergone drastic changes, as violence and tensions have escalated.
As she reconnects with her family, friends, and an ex-lover, Aisha has to grapple with her past and accept the guilt of leaving behind what she left behind - an experience Savage relates to her own life.
Both Savage and her director expressed that they had to travel to different places to pursue their ambitions. Savage spent two weeks undergoing intense training in London in order to play the character of Aisha convincingly.
"It was crucial to strip me of being Tiwa Savage and allow me to become a different character," she stated.
As the movie's production progressed, Savage not only shed her star persona, she let go of her initial plans to incorporate the first five songs from her EP into the film's soundtrack. Instead, she chose to produce a fresh set of music for the movie.
"At first, it was going to feature the first five songs from the EP, but after we finished filming, it acquired a new identity, and we crafted a separate soundtrack," she noted.
The album let Savage experiment with numerous genres, such as Jazz, R&B, and gospel.
"I've been boxed into a certain sound for approximately a decade as an artist. This movie allowed me to try out different genres, which sparked my interest," Savage shared.
This 10-song soundtrack features collaborations with the French Nigerian singer Asa on "Emotions," the American gospel artist Zacardi Cortez on "I Need You," and the jazz band Richard Bona & The Cavemen for "Water & Garri."
"Performing the soundtrack enabled me to explore various genres, and I was unable to do so as Tiwa Savage. Thus, I could venture into unexplored sections of my talent," she added.
Savage confesses that she has always appreciated Jazz, R&B, and gospel music, and after acting in "Water & Garri" and performing the soundtrack, she realized the incredible growth she'd made as an artist and gained the confidence to be limitless in her artistic pursuits.
"Now, I'm not confining myself to the sound associated with me; I've evolved." Savage asserted. "Today, I'm open to using any creative outlet."
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In her preparations for her acting role, Tiwa Savage underwent intensive training in London, venturing far from her homeland and musical identity in Nigeria. Despite the initial plans to use songs from her EP as the film's soundtrack, the evolving project led to a unique and diverse recording session in Africa.
As Tiwa Savage's successful acting debut with "Water & Garri" reaches audiences across the world, the film's impact is extending beyond Nigeria to spark interest in African-inspired stories across the globe.
Source: edition.cnn.com
