Ring, ring, the doctor is in! Recently, Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage received an honorary degree from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England.
Modern Ghana reports that the Nigerian singer previously completed a degree in Accounting at the University. The university gave reasons why the musician was awarded the honorary degree, saying that she “will be made Doctor of Music in recognition of her inspirational and international career in music.”
Savage thanked the university, her family, and friends for their support, as reported by AfroTech. During her speech, she spoke about her failures and her experience of being bullied while also listing her achievements over the years.
“I failed at a lot of things, actually. I was bullied at school severely when I moved to the UK. I ran away from home a few times. I was suspended a few times from school. I was globally ridiculed a couple of times. I’m not gonna say what it is, but it rhymes with cape, the irony,” Savage said.
“I also failed Principles of Finance at this very university when I was graduating, but this same girl went on to be the leading figure in a global phenom called Afro beats…some call me queen, but it’s Dr. Savage from now.”
Her record label, Universal Music Group, congratulated her on social media. “Hats off to you, @TiwaSavage! This month, she will be made Doctor of Music in recognition of her inspirational and international career in music at her alma mater, Kent University.”
Some of her past accomplishments include being crowned Best African Act by the MTV European Music Awards – making history as the first female to win the award, being the first African female to sell out London’s IndigO2, covering many international magazines, and was the first African female to represent Pepsi as an ambassador, said Universal Music Group. Congrats to Dr. Tiwa Savage – you make us all proud!
Photo Credit: Photo by Jacopo M. Raule/Getty Images fro Fendi