On May 24, The Headies released the list of nominees and their categories ahead of the 15th year of the annual award show set to hold on September 4 this year. 

In the ongoing series, Document Women touches on the illustrious women who have been nominated for the annual event. This week, we have the Queen of Afrobeats, Tiwa Savage and soulful singer, Falana.

TIWA SAVAGE

Easily one of the top, best artistes in and out of Nigeria, Tiwa Savage has continued to wow her audience since her 2010 breakout single Kele Kele. 

Tiwa Savage was born in Isale Eko, Lagos and moved to the United Kingdom at 11 years old to complete her studies. In her late teenage years, She kickstarted her career playing backup singer for stars like Mary J Blige, Kelly Clarkson and George Michael. She graduated from the University of Kent and worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland. She also pursued a degree in music at the Berklee College of Music in 2007. Inspired by the boom of the music industry in Nigeria she returned home and began her career. 

Upon her return to Nigeria, she released Kele Kele and shortly after in 2012 was signed to Mavin records owned by music producer and singer Don Jazzy. In 2013, Tiwa released her debut album Once Upon a Time, got her first nomination in the BET awards and went ahead to win Best Female in the Channel O awards. 

Tiwa also won the Best African Act award in MTV’s Europe Music Awards ceremony in 2018, becoming the first woman in Africa to achieve this feat. 

This groundbreaking artiste has been cited as an inspiration to many up and coming female acts such as Arya Starr, Fave, Tems, etc. Tiwa occasionally involves herself in organizing youth empowerment programs, breast cancer screening programs and fundraisers to build schools in her hometown. 

A returning Headies nominee and winner, Tiwa has been once again nominated in the categories for Best RnB Album and Best Female of the Year awards. 

FALANA

Falana is a Canadian-born and bred singer and songwriter of Nigerian descent. While in Brampton, she explored music as well as travel when her birthplace no longer seemed to give her the reach she craved. FALANA balanced day jobs with occasional night gigs and testing out new styles. 

Falana moved to Lagos in 2015 bringing her first EP with her in order to ground herself in her homeland. Her music was influenced by classics from artists like Fela Kuti, Nina Simone, Jill Scott, and Beyoncé. In 2019, she self-produced her EP titled Chapter One. 

Since going back to her roots she has carved out her own unique style through a mixture of what she describes as Afrosoul, a blend of Jazz, RnB and Afrobeats. 

Falana has been nominated previously for the 12th The Headies award for the Best Vocal Performance female category. She has again been nominated in this year’s 15th edition for the Best Recording of the Year and Best Songwriter of the Year. She also won the SOCAN Black Canadian Music Award earlier this year. 

Rising, Falana’s latest EP tackles issues of women empowerment and speaking up against discrimination in the industry.

In our last episode, Document Women covered FAVE and fast rising star Tems.