Nigerian singer and songwriter, Tiwa Savage, has dropped a striking video for a new single, ‘49-99’.
The single and video is her first official solo work since she exited Mavin records and joined Universal Music Group in May.
The single and Meji Alabi-directed video began global streaming on September 5 following a listening party where Tiwa explained the message behind the song and video.
The video features a recreation of Congo High: Class of ’72, an epic photography collection of Congolese schoolgirls in eccentric hairstyles and blue white-collared uniforms.
She said, “The song encourages the young to put down the sense of inheritance and work for what they desire in life, for a better tomorrow.
“We can’t sit on our old glories and expect things to change for the better. On ’49-99,’ Tiwa says.
“‘49-99’ also addresses some political leaders who, instead of focusing on the growth of a nation, are there just for the money and having affairs with underage girls – while the citizenry is hustling hard to make a daily living,” She added.
The music star elaborated on the song in a press release ‘49-99’ as a term coined from the hard life many Nigerians go through.
The song reveals a case study of a transit bus service which ought to serve 49 persons but due to the poor economic condition is often made to carry twice the number with so many persons standing.
The track also references Fela Kuti’s famous “49 sittings, 99 standing” line from his 1978 song “Suffering and Smiling.”
Throughout the track, Tiwa sings about the pursuit of money in Nigeria, offering commentary on widespread poverty.
