Tiwa Savage’s marriage is ‘Magical’. Photo: Shola
Animashaun
The traditional wedding ceremony of popular
singer, Tiwa Savage and her manager/hubby, Tunji
‘Tee-Billz’ Balogun may have gulped nothing less
than N30m, by calculation. On Saturday, November
23, 2013, the Ark Vicinity , Lekki, Lagos venue of
the wedding was like a carnival of some sort as
family, friends and colleagues of the couple showed
up to celebrate their union.
Weeks ago, When Tee-Billz mentioned in an
interview that he was planning for a small wedding,
he either did not envisage the wide publicity and
high budget that was to follow or he was just being
deniably modest with the plans because as it
turned out, apart from being the talk of the town in
the last one week, the wedding now records as one
of the most star-studded weddings in recent times.
Starting with the invitation cards, looking at the
design and artwork, one would know that a lot of
money must have been put into the design and
duplication. For Tiwa’s personality and status in the
society, there’s no doubt that the couple would
have been looking at over a thousand guests. The
Fuchsia and gold coloured invitation card came with
small access cards for entry into the venue, all
packed in a beautifully designed paper bag. 500
pieces of the package costing an average of N5000
each amounts to N2.5million. Courier company,
Compton Green Express delivered the bag to the
guests, and that’s a service that the couple would
have had to pay for too.
Except for a few glitches, it was a well-organized
wedding by the bespoke wedding design and
planning outfit, The Wedding Company. This was
the same company that handled musician Darey
Art Alade ’s wedding to wife Deola as well
as Basketmouth’s wedding to Elsie. A former
client of the company say that the company’s fee is
related to the details and how classy the clients
wants it.
For Tiwa/Tee-Billz, putting down a staggering figure
of N6million to achieve a memorable day wasn’t a
problem at all.
Although the official wedding colours were fuchsia
and gold, most of the hall was beautifully lit with
white and orange. Uche Majekodunmi’s Newton
and David were hired to do the decorations of the
hall. The award winning event design and décor
company were paid N2m for tuning up the
ambience of the hall.
The venue of the wedding, Ark Vicinity in Lekki,
Lagos is fast becoming one of the most patronized
event centres in Lagos. This was the same venue
where Peter Okoye of Psquare wedded his
wife Lola Omotayo just the previous week. With
its proximity to a 5-Star hotel, Vantage Hotel and
the exquisite Lekki Beach, insiders claim a day’s
rent of the venue could go for up to N3.5million
depending on the negotiation.
It may amaze you to know that the beautiful white
and creamy Tiwa/Tee-Billz wedding cake costs well
over N2m. Outrageous, right? Welcome to the
world of celebrity cake makers.
There was more than enough to eat and drink. The
main company responsible for providing the
varieties of delicacies was Morenike
Okupe’s Malas Foods Catering Services and then
there were other small companies that provided
the cannapes, ice creams and barbecues. All sorts
of drinks were available, from soft drinks, to beer,
spirits, wines, to champagnes; all totaling up to
N5m with food inclusive.
Unlike other traditions, the ceremonial gifts in the
Yoruba tradition is usually not so expensive. The
family brought a lot of food stuff which included
tubers of yam, plantain, garri, etc. Boxes of clothing
items were also presented amongst others; all of
these totaling up to N800, 000 including the bride
price which was not disclosed.
When King Sunny Ade and his band come to play,
you know there’s no dull moment. As the main
entertainer for the occasion, the Juju musician
serenaded the guests as well as the couple. Let’s
not forget comedian/MC who held down the
occasion for up to eight hours.
Although sources suggest the services of KSA
and Seyi Law may have been complimentary or
greatly discounted, on a normal day their charges
could amount to about N5million and N1million
respectively.
Through the course of the entire wedding, the
couple had a change of clothes three different
times. Not only did they change clothes, shoes and
accessories were also changed. Parents, family and
close friends were also catered for as they almost
all dressed uniformly in the gold-coloured lace aso-
ebi. The clothing items on the couple, parents and
family, may well cost between a million to
1.5million, accessories inclusive.
Private security company, ‘ Bold Events ’ were in
charge at the venue. While some were at the doors
and gates fully dressed with military-type gears and
gadgets, a few were however dressed in black suits
and dark shades, protecting the couple from
undesired guests and photographers alike. The cost
of security from the company could be up to
N500k.
The marriage procession
The ceremony began with the traditional wedding
rite as both families were ushered into the smaller
hall of the venue at a few minutes past 11am. Both
families sat opposite each other with that of the
groom sitting to the left and the bride to the right.
After the introduction of both families by the
wedding engager who is known as ‘Alaga’ in Yoruba,
the groom’s family handed a letter to the bride’s
family officially asking for their daughter’s hand in
marriage which the bride’s family accepted.
Soon after, the groom was ushered into the hall
accompanied his friends, which included Don Jazzy,
Banky W and Darey Art Alade. Tunji entered the
hall dressed in a white traditional attire (‘agbada’
laced on buba and sokoto) with white cap to match.
He and his group of friends prostrated before the
bride’s family as a show of respect.
Finally the bride, dressed in silver coloured Aso-
Oke with a headgear of same colour to match was
ushered into the hall. She was accompanied by her
friends, which included Karen Igho and singer
Essence.
After a few more rites, the couple were joined
together, prayed for and blessed by both families.
Journalists and pressmen barred from the main
hall
Security officials from Bold Events company and
soldiers stationed at the venue refused to allow
journalists with video and photo cameras into the
premises despite showing up with their invitation
and access cards. The security explained to be
acting under instruction since exclusive coverage
rights had been sold to a prominent media house.
General Pype arrives with child covered up
Dance hall artiste General Pipe came with his wife
and few months old baby. The ‘Champion’ singer
wrapped the baby in ‘Michael Jackson blanket style’
in a bid to stop the press from taking shots of the
baby.
Reign of exotic cars
The parking lot was almost like the venue of a car
show as the invited guests came in different brands
of classy and exotic cars. The Mavin crew led by
Don Jazzy came in a Bentley, Escalade and a Carrera
S sport car. Dayo ‘D1’ Adeneye came in his
Bentley with a customized number and Florence
Ita-Giwa was driven to the venue in wine coloured
Bentley. There were also eye-popping cars like
Ferrari, Range Sports, G Wagons and lots of other
expensive automobiles.
Tiwa’s dad wasn’t happy with the course of
wedding
Tiwa Savage’s father appeared not to be happy with
the course of the wedding. Our correspondent
caught him complaining to a member of his family
how the groom’s family seems to have hijacked the
whole ceremony. His anger was further expressed
as he went round asking some of the guests from
the grooms side to move from their tables and to
look for seats elsewhere.
Femi Otedola’s daughter took the turntables
UK based Celebrity DJ, Producer and
songwriter DJ Cuppy (Florence Otedola), daughter
of Billionaire Femi Otedola was also on deck to
spin on the turn tables. After enjoying mixes by DJ
Xclusive, the female DJ was invited to the
turntables to do her thing.
Performances
Apart from King Sunny Ade who was the main
entertainer for the event, a few of the artistes who
were also present were given a few minutes to do
their thing. Being called up on stage, the artistes all
mounted the stage and performed in a single row,
one after the other. First up were Dr SID and Don
Jazzy, and then Banky W, Iyanya, Lynxxx, Davido,
Chuddy K and finally Seyi Shay .
Tiwa and T-Billz’s love story
Tiwa and T-Billz certainly share lot of history
together. The two met in the US and established a
working relationship where T-Billz functioned as
Tiwa’s manager. Together they established their
label, 323 Entertainment and began the journey
back home to make a name in the Nigerian music
industry.
In what started as a rumour and several denials,
their relationship suddenly took a dramatic twist
when T-Billz formally proposed on Tiwa’s
34th birthday on February 5, 2013.
Investigations reveal that the white wedding
ceremony which is expected to hold in early 2014
in The Maldives an island off the coast of the Indian
Ocean.
Roll Call
Don Jazzy, Banky W, Dr SID and fiancée Simi
Osomo, Iyanya, Tekno, Waje, Davido, Sasha P, DJ
Jimmy JATT, DJ Xclusive, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi,
Toke Makinwa, Kaylah Oniwo, Fade Ogunro, Psquare
wives Lola Omotayo, Anita Isama, Ali Baba, Julius
Agwu, Seyi Law, Agbani Darego, Rita Dominic, Funke
Akindele, Jane Michele, Kaylah Oniwo, Niyola,
Michelle Dede, Lamii Philips, Kaffy, Zaina, Elohor
Aisien, Nicole Chikwe, Yvonne Nwosu, Tee-Y Mix,
Ayo Animashaun, Eva Alordiah, Toyin Lawani, Tola
Odunsi, Toolz, Ali Baba, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Ebuka Obi-
Uchendu, Segun Demuren, Omawumi, Emma Nyra,
Linda Ikeji, Toju Foyeh, Jumai Shaba, Juliet Ibrahim,
Mai Atafo, Olamide, Olisa Adibau, Freeze, Bridget
Awosika, Eku Edewor, Chris the Razor, Susan Peters,
Saeon, Femi Otedola, Otedola’s daughter DJ Cuppy,
Lynxxx, Uti Nwachukwu, Iceberg Slim, Dammy
Krane, General Pype, Seyi Shay, Karen Igho,
Essence, Dayo D1 Adeneye, Kenny Ogungbe,
Florence Ita-Giwa, Ayo Badmus, Teeto Cemos,
Denrele Edun, Kola Oyeyemi, Eniola Badmus,
Princess, ID Cabasa.
Absentees
Psquare, D’banj, Wizkid, Wande Coal, Naeto C,
Timaya, M.I, Ice Prince, Flavour and Sinzu.
Table of cost by calculation Amount (N)
Wedding planner 6m
The bride price and Ceremonial gift 800k
Clothing items 1.5m
Wedding invitation cards + delivery 3m
Food and refreshment 5m
Event venue 3.5m
Decorations 2m
King Sunny Ade’s performance fee 5m
MC’s fee 1m
Security 500k
Cake 2m
