Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has opened up about her parenting approach, revealing that she is intentionally raising her son, Jamil, with discipline and boundaries despite her success and lifestyle.
The singer shared her thoughts in a series of Instagram stories, reflecting on a video by businesswoman and pastor Ibukun Awosika. Quoting Awosika, Tiwa cautioned against letting personal success “kill their children’s ambition.”
According to her, children who are given everything without effort may struggle with passion, drive, and ambition later in life. She emphasized that experiencing need or absence often motivates people to work harder and chase their dreams.
“A dream should be something bigger than your reality. Something you wish you had that you don’t already,” Tiwa wrote.
She said she has begun applying this philosophy with Jamil, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Tunji “TeeBillz” Balogun. For instance, while she sometimes travels by private jet, she intentionally places her son in economy class on commercial flights.
Recounting a recent trip, Tiwa said Jamil complained about neck pain and limited legroom, which she found amusing given his legs are still too short to reach the seat in front. She added that, even though he was accompanied by his nanny, she still had to check on him throughout the flight due to his dissatisfaction with the seating arrangement.
Tiwa also stressed the importance of teaching her son the value of earning rewards. She explained that Jamil can no longer simply request things like Roblox without effort. “He has to earn it by doing house chores or when he gets good grades,” she said.
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She further disclosed that Jamil is restricted from using an iPad, eating snacks, or having candy during the week, and that Bible study has become a nightly ritual before bedtime.
Despite these strict rules, Tiwa was quick to clarify that her son is well-behaved. She described him as “a really good kid” and emphasized that her parenting style is rooted in love and the desire to build a strong foundation.
“I am intentional about setting a good foundation for him,” she wrote, adding, “this, in my view, is what real love looks like.”
Tiwa Savage, one of Africa’s leading female artists, has consistently spoken about the challenges of motherhood and raising a child in the public eye since welcoming Jamil in 2015.