WHAT TIME IS IT IN LAGOS?

UMG topper Sir Lucian Grainge and associates celebrate the inking of Nigerian superstar singer/songwriter Tiwa Savage, one of Africa’s most popular artists and a presence not only in music but also film, TV, fashion and philanthropy. “You know,” offered super-attorney Joel Katz, “this wondrous occasion brings to mind an old Yoruba saying, ‘nigbawo ni awọn ounjẹ ipanu yoo wa?’ I think those words resonate today more than ever.” Seen just before hitting the corporate dispensary and then roller-blading down to the marina are (back, l-r) Greenberg Traurig’s Katz, UMG South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa MD Sipho Diamini, Stealth Management/Regime Music Societe’s Efe Ogbeni, UMG EVP, Market Development Adam Granite, Stealth Management’s Vannessa Amadi-Ogbonna and (front, l-r) Grainge and Savage.

The Lagos-born Savage won a scholarship to the Berklee School of Music, earned plaudits from MTV and shared the stage at Nelson Mandela’s centenary celebration with stars like Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran and Chris Martin (who picked her for the event). She also made a splash at Jay-Z’s Made in America fest. The signing is a further illustration of UMG’s ever-widening global reach and approach to A&R. Her projects will be overseen by Ogbeni and Amadi-Ogbonna.

Photo credit: Ashley Eberbach