The album recently debuted at number one on the iTunes UK R&B/Soul Albums chart and #18 on the UK HipHop/R&B Albums chart.
Tiwa Savage’s “This One Is Personal” debuts at #1 on the iTunes UK R&B/Soul Albums chart pic.twitter.com/jWt87PswZC
— Afrobeats Head Loves Timothee Ideh (@AfrobeatsHead) September 3, 2025
I’ve loved Tiwa Savage since I first watched the “Kele Kele Love” in my uncle’s living room in Abuja in 2011 so when her team reached out to ask if I’d like to attend the event I was like of course!
Kelele Love. Still remember the very first time I saw the video. MTV Base or Trace I was mopping my uncle’s house in Abuja.😂 I was hooked!
— Afrobeats Head Loves Timothee Ideh (@AfrobeatsHead) April 20, 2022
Once at The Library Lagos I was greeted by a beautiful young lady who offered me ice cold water and a Don Julio cocktail.
She asked me to knock on a tiny door and a hand reached out with my ice cold cocktail.
Once inside The Library Lagos the music was hitting and the performances were amazing but Tiwa Savage arrived about an hour later and the energy went from good to great.
Tiwa Savage at her This One Is Personal album release party sponsored by Don Julio
She was joined by Taves, Shine TTW, her PR Manager Vanessa Amadi, Simi Badiru of TRACE and other members of her team.
Tiwa Savage and Flavour share a hug at her album release party
We spent all night dancing to her songs- both classics like “Kele Kele Love” “Eminado” “Love Me” “Diet” “Loaded” and new ones from the new album like “You4Me” “On The Low” “Holding It Down” and more and like the hypeman kept reminding us, it was hit after hit after hit.
Uti Nwachukwu walks the red carpet at the Tiwa Savage and Don Julio event
Other celebrities like Uti Nwachukwu, Jay Jay Okocha Flavour N’Abania were also there to support her.
Tiwa Savage was in high spirits, as she danced and passed out shots of Don Julio around.
The night finally ended at around 4 am. I was so tired but I’d had the time of my life.
We’re outside with Tiwa Savage and Don Julio to celebrate her album “This One Is Personal”
In a genre dominated by celebration, Llona positions himself not as a party-starter, but as a preacher of introspection. He draws on pain and trauma from his experiences within his nomadic community, offering a form of musical self-therapy.
While his message is potent, its consistent solemnity may limit his commercial reach—a trade-off that arguably strengthens his artistic authenticity. His music delivers a piercing resonance, a reflection so potent it makes the hairs on your skin stand on end.
His recent release, “Dead Flowers,” solidifies his place among Afrobeats‘ growing emotional voices. The track is a vital contribution to an expanding “afro-emotion” subgenre. Llona frames himself as a change agent, singing, “I believe / yes, I believed / I will build a future that’s just not for me / take away the chaos, advocate for peace.” He emphasizes an internal competition, needing no external validation: “I don’t care who is next / not the reason that I’m here.”
This is more than an expression of past pain; it’s a declaration of arrival. He signals a readiness to reveal the “hidden Super Star” he has realized he is.
This artistic identity was forged in his debut album, “Homeless,” which marked him as a distinctly introspective voice. The project expressed vulnerability, struggle, and resilience, often using dark humor to navigate despair. In “Still Scared,” he sings, “stuck in the place where they can’t save us… running and running like a stray dog / death is the only thing that saves us.”
Llona is actively building the foundation to become the face of “Emo-Afrobeats.” A key strategy is his ambitious “Homeless” nationwide tour, a rarity in the Nigerian music scene due to significant economic and logistical challenges. While major artists often focus solely on commercial hubs, Llona leveraged this tour to connect with the grassroots, performing in cities like Ogbomosho, Benin, Lokoja, Awka, Owerri, Lafia and Abeokuta. This grassroots focus builds a dedicated fandom and gives audiences what they yearn for “to see artists perform live”.
His music might not be “party flow,” but it speaks to the everyday Nigerian’s reality. The “Homeless” tour has skyrocketed his listenership, proving that his message of vulnerability and self-found therapy is not just artistically sound, but a viable path to building a legacy. Llona is a phenom to watch, potentially steering clear of his peers by forging one of the most strong, connected fandoms in the industry.
About the Author
Ibeh Fortune Chidinma is a media creative, podcaster, and culture writer passionate about music and entertainment space. He explores Afrobeats and African pop culture with a focus on the artists shaping today’s sound. When not writing, he is hosting the Spillers Podcast, where bold conversations meet social commentary. Follow him on X @Datafricanboy .
“Obroni Kokoo” blends Ghanaian Pidgin storytelling and the title means “Red Foreigner” in Twi — a nickname he grew up with as a mixed-race kid between Accra and Germany.
This track captures hi dual identity: diasporic roots, raw emotion, and global sound.
It blends Lagos Street energy with a trap bounce and is designed to catch attention right away.
“The track carries the same kind of instant pull you hear from Burna Boy, Rema, or Asake, but with more grit and bounce that sticks after the first listen,” says Onyaka.
Paris-based artist Visceral Design has released a new single “Give It Time” an emotional heartbreak song that addresses the breakdown of a passionate relationship between a man and a woman.
Written and produced by Marwan Bardawil, “Deep Beirut” features Joya on vocals and Marcel Ghrayeb on the Santur, with Marwan on guitar and background vocals.
The music combines an afrohouse music style with the oriental Santur instrument and arabic vocals to create a distinctive sound and feel while the lyrics combine English and Arabic and begin to describe the unique depth and complexity of Beirut.
The track is a cosmic journey through melodic textures, pulsing bass, and dreamy atmospheres.
On the inspiration behind her music, Spacey describes herself as a cosmic music producer with “a knack for blending experimental beats and interstellar vibes that sound like they were produced on the dark side of the moon.”
Stream “Explorer” by Spacey Panda and Orange A Bloom
“Where Are You” brings together three generations and three artistic visions in a single beat, marking the culmination of mutual admiration spanning decades. Danni Gato, the leading name in Cape Verdean House Music, meets his lifelong idols: Nelson Freitas and Djodje, two Cape Verdean legends who have shaped not only his career but an entire generation of Lusophone artists.
“Having Nelson and Djodje on this track is a childhood dream come true. They were the voices that accompanied me when I began to understand what I wanted to do with music. Now, producing for them feels like closing a circle,” says Danni Gato.
The track represents the natural evolution of Afro House in a more electronic and international direction.
It is the sound of three artists at the peak of their creative powers, united by mutual respect that resonates in every beat, melody, and verse.
But “Where Are You” goes beyond music.
“Danni represents everything that’s best about the new generation. Seeing how he honors our roots while creating something completely new is inspiring. This track proves that our culture is in good hands,” emphasizes Nelson Freitas.
“This collaboration represents everything we are: a musical family without borders. Danni brought a fresh energy to our voices, and we brought the soul he always sought. ‘Where Are You’ is Cape Verde in 2025,” adds Djodje.
The track’s production team represents the best of the scene: Danni Gato and Rizzo on production, with Pedro Serraninho on mix and master—the most respected names in today’s music landscape.
The music video, directed by Eva Mina and featuring actor Igor Regalla, takes a bold conceptual approach: the artists themselves do not appear in the video. Instead, the piece critiques contemporary screen-dependent society, creating a powerful contrast between the humanity of music and the digital coldness of our times.
ABOUT DANNI GATO:
DJ and producer Gato, was born in Faro with Cape Verdean roots, he transformed the soulful rhythms of morna and coladeira into a universal electronic language.
His distinctive Afro House sound has taken him to prestigious stages worldwide, from Ibiza to Dubai, Bali to New York, and Boston to Paris.
In Portugal, he has earned multiple gold and platinum records, sold out the Pavilhão Carlos Lopes in Lisbon twice, and performed at the country’s largest festivals, including Rock In Rio Lisboa, Brunch Electronik, and MEO Sudoeste. Tracks like “Xaguada”, “Gratitude”, “Hulk”, “Pedrinha”, “Oskey”, and “Num Tás a Ver” are staples in the playlists of the world’s top DJs, consolidating him as Portugal’s ambassador for global Afro House.
ABOUT NELSON FREITAS:
With over 25 years of career, Nelson Freitas is a Lusophone music legend. Born in the Netherlands to Cape Verdean parents, he has always been the bridge between tradition and modernity, between Cape Verde and its global diaspora. From the pioneering days with Quatro Plus to solo hits like “Rebound Chick” and the recent “Black Butterfly” (2024), Nelson continues to define Ghetto-Zouk and contemporary Lusophone music.
ABOUT DJODJE:
Djodje is the voice of a generation raised between tradition and revolution. Born into a musical family in Praia, Cape Verde, he is the son of Israel ‘Toto’ Silva, guitarist of the legendary band Os Tubarões. Transforming the morna legacy into a global language of Afropop and Kizomba, Djodje remains one of the most celebrated voices in Lusophone music, recognized by the BBC and boasting a fan base across four continents
Stream “Where Are You” by Danni Gato, Nelson Freitas and Djodje
It’s one of the three tracks on his latest EP Love Without Border, which features a fusion of Afrobeats Afro-pop, Afro-R&B;, and even a touch of Amapiano.
With Rosette’s silky vocals layered over smooth Afro-fusion production, the song delivers a powerful message while keeping the rhythm irresistible.
