Nigerian music star, Tiwa Savage, has opened up about the emotional experience that led her to get a tattoo, revealing it was inspired by a difficult heartbreak.
The award-winning singer shared the story in an interview with media personality, Katy Igwe.
According to Savage, the emotional pain she endured was so personal that she chose to have the tattoo done in the privacy of her home, rather than in a public tattoo parlour.
She flew in her tattoo artist from Los Angeles to Lagos to ensure she was in a comfortable and familiar environment.
“I flew in my tattoo artist from LA to Nigeria. And I did it [the tattoo] in my room. So I was in an environment where I was comfortable. When you are in a tattoo parlour sometimes, a lot of people are working and then you are going through that pain. I wanted to make sure that I was in a comfortable place,” she explained.
The singer described the tattoo session as intense and painful, with her artist expressing concern over the amount of bleeding and the emotional weight behind her decision.
“My tattoo artist walked in and was like, ‘What are you doing?… Is that going to come off?’ He started tattooing my body, there was blood everywhere. So he was more concerned for me like, ‘What are you trying to do?’”
Tiwa Savage went on to reveal that the tattoo was a form of release from the emotional turmoil she experienced following the end of a troubled relationship.
“I did that [the tattoo] from the pain I felt from a heartbreak. I just wanted to do something to scream,” she said.
Reflecting on the relationship, the singer described the past two years as especially challenging and expressed relief at having moved on.
“Last two years was a very hard time. The relationship I experienced was crazy. I’m so happy
I’m out of that relationship.”
