EP Review: Tiwa Savage Showcases Her Eclecticism on Water & Garri
On her sophomore EP, the Nigerian singer merges African and global influences.
After a seven-year stint with Mavin Records that spawned two albums and one EP—Once Upon a Time, R.E.D and Sugarcane—renowned Nigerian songstress Tiwa Savage signed to Universal Music Group and released her third album, Celia, in 2020. Named after her mother, the album featured guest appearances from British singer Sam Smith and Nigerian acts like Davido and Naira Marley. It also made TIME’s “The 10 Best Albums of 2020,” in which Savage was praised for “an innate understanding of how various strains of music from the Black diaspora fit together, so R&B, rap, Afrobeats, and global pop coalesce seamlessly on the record.”
That innate understanding of multiple music genres shows up on Water & Garri, Tiwa Savage’s five-track sophomore EP. The project’s title is inspired by the staple cassava dish in Nigerian societies, which is enjoyed whether hot or cold. In a way, the music on the project mirrors the contrasts: gentle flowing, body swaying rhythms and drum-heavy, dance-inducing beats.
The opener “Work Fada,” which features veteran American rapper Nas and Nigerian singer/producer Rich King, is an ode to hard work and self-reliance. With its mid-tempo rhythm of drums and electric guitar, Rich King’s production is a masterful blend of R&B and soul. Tiwa Savage and Rich King’s singing is deliberately measured, allowing their words of admonition to seep into the listener. “It might take you hours/And it might even take you days/You can use your hands/And you can build a house,” Rich King sings. On his part, Nas infuses the track with the wisdom of an experienced hand that has seen and done it all.
Tiwa Savage is full of regret on “Ade Ori.” She looks back at the mess of a broken relationship and is determined to walk away with her confidence intact. “I don’t need no sign, I’ve thought it over/I can heal my pain, I don’t need yours/Nothing feels the same I need to fix up/Ready to come out from my pain,” she sings.
Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae teams up with Tiwa Savage on “Tales By Moonlight,” a track that shares the same title with a Nigerian TV show that was popular in the ’8os and ’90s. On the song, Amaarae and Tiwa Savage turn on their flirty charm; they wave the green light at their love interests but show restraint by not throwing themselves at the men. “Mm, I just wanna know now/If I'm switching on my pronoun/Mm, is it we from now?/'Cause I'm ready, I'm ready,” Tiwa Savage sings.
On the hope-filled “Somebody’s Son,” Tiwa Savage and American singer Brandy sing about a time when true love will find them. “Somebody’s son go find me one day/One day/I don dey wait, don’t stay too far away,” Tiwa Savage sings. Interestingly, Brandy delivers some parts of her verse and the chorus in Pidgin and Yoruba—“Worried? I’m not worried/No, I no look for embrace/Who wan settle for whatever?”
Tiwa Savage chips in one verse on “Special Kinda” and hands Nigerian singer Tay Iwar the steering wheel. Through his verse and the chorus, the latter croons sweet words to his love interest. He sings about the things he would do for her and needing her love when he is down. The song features a funky outro of electronic music.
Water & Garri, a well-curated project of afrobeats, R&B, soul and pop, continues Tiwa Savage’s sojourn into the international market and adds quality to her growing discography.
Go HERE to stream Water & Garri.