The Meaning Behind Tiwa Savage's "49-99"

In the newly released single "49-99" by Tiwa Savage, she paid homage to the late afrobeats legend Fela Kuti. In the lyrics of his song 'Shuffering and Shmiling', the legend sang...

Everyday my people dey inside bus (shuffering and shmiling)...49 sitting, 99 standing
(shuffering and shmiling)...Dem go pack themselves in like sardine (shuffering and shmiling)....

Tiwa Savage further explained it when she sat with American Radio personality, Ebro Darden

Heard first with @oldmanebro. Check out @TiwaSavage's "49-99," and hear what the Nigerian artist had to say about new music and working with @Zlatan_Ibile. https://t.co/NCt4AKQMye pic.twitter.com/EjGb7aQZSD

— Beats 1 (@Beats1) September 5, 2019

FULL INTERVIEW

The music video made visual references to the rich Nigerian cultural history and she made mention on the ongoing financial issues in Nigeria. She also paid homage to Eliot Elisofon's iconic 70s portraits of Congolese schoolgirls were she and other ladies wore blue schoolgirl uniforms paired with authentic African hairstyles. This is one of her best works till date.👏👏👏👏👏

Fela Kuti's Shuffering and Shmiling...

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