Tiwa Savage up for two UK Music Video Awards

Established in 2008, the UKMVAs are held annually to reward artistic creativity and technical ingenuity in the production of music videos and moving images for music. Key players in the music video value chain, such as directors, producers, cinematographers, production designers, choreographers and editors, among others, are voted for by a jury comprising industry professionals. 

Tiwa Savage is hoping to pick up the trophies for Best Styling in a Video and Best R&B/Soul Video – International. She faces stiff competition from other big names including Beyoncé, 070 Shake and British-Ghanaian singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka. 

The track ‘49-99’ is a 2019 stand-alone single by the ‘Koroba’ hitmaker, with accompanying visuals directed by Meji Alabi. It was released on Universal Music Group’s Motown Records and heralded her latest LP Celia. 

Discussing the video during a London listening party last year, Tiwa Savage said: “I wanted my first global single to have a message that we are suffering and smiling and music is a powerful tool," adding that she wanted a title that “could be a conversation starter; like 49 people sitting and 99 standing like we’re suffering and smiling. It’s just a reflection of the economy and the imbalance with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer." The title is inspired by Fela Kuti's 1978 album Shuffering and Shmiling.

Thirty-seven awards are up for grabs at this year’s UKMVAs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is likely to take place virtually instead of London’s Roundhouse, where it has been held since 2016.

Find the full list of nominees here.