He currently has one of the biggest songs in the African continent.
Since he released it in November 2021, the title newcomer has been removed from his profile.
In the first week of the release of Confident featuring Buju, the song was on one million streams.
Nigerian Afro Beats singer Godson Ogaga Essi (26), fondly known as Savage, has won the hearts of many South Africans.
“It’s my first project, but I didn’t expect it to blow up and be this big in such a short space of time,” he tells Drum.
“It feels great having a huge song that can reach everyone across the world,” he says. With all the countries he has travelled to, Savage says Cape Town is his favourite city in the world.
“Cape Town is too beautiful and peaceful,” he says.
“It's calm and I get to have my own space to think and introspect. Johannesburg is very busy and reminds me a lot of Lagos with everyone trying to make it. In Cape Town, I have the peace to come up with new ideas and make music. Although people still recognise me in the street, it is tranquil.”
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Last year he released his first highly anticipated 10-track debut album titled Utopia with singles Adoration, reflections on hustle, lust, sensuality, and confidence. He featured Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones, Nigerian-born and UK-based Afropop singer Kinda Kudz, Kojo Funds, Mana Gyalis, Victory, and South African Hip-Hop heavyweight Emthembeni “Emtee” Ndevu.
“Working with Emtee was dope,” he says.
Although they never got to meet in person, they spoke on the phone and create the song virtually. “We did everything through his management team. I still would love to meet up with him. We spoke over the phone and whatnot because I was traveling a lot last year because of the music,” he adds.
He also features in the song Feel Like by new artist KashCPT’S, who recently released the album Cape Town Radio 2.
“I still want to work with more South African artists,” he says. For his next project due for release in November this year, he features DJ Mpahorisa and Blxckie.
“I have already worked on the song with DJ Maphorisa and Blxckie,” he says.
“Working with them was awesome. Maphorisa made South African jollof rice for me. He likes to cook. The energy was great. The space was good. We haven’t given the song a title as yet, but we will do so soon. But working with people with positive energy and vibes is what I’m about,” he says.
He describes his style of music as Afro-pop with afrobeats touch of Hip-Hop.
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He started making music 12 years ago but decided to get into it as a profession in the last few years.
“I come from a musical home and a creative background. I started making music about 12 years ago, I went to a school that had many creatives who did art, music, and fashion. My family has actors, singers, and artist," he says.
"I was born into showbiz and my environment influenced me. But I am the first person in my family to do it to this magnitude and become this famous. But my aunts and uncles hustle and I am grateful to have been the family’s breakout star,."
He started making music while at school.
“I was first in a band, and we all went to school, and everyone chose different career paths. Before deciding to make music professionally, I was hustling in the street trying to make money. I am a fashion designer; I have had my streetwear clothing line called Savage Space for about four years and it’s been doing well. But I decided to also venture into music, which I truly love,” he adds.
