Watch Tiwa Savage’s 49-99

She began promoting the single a week ago, culminating in a London listening party that ran into the early hours of yesterday. The song was released via Universal Music Group’s Motown Records.

During a Q&A session at the listening party, she revealed what ‘49-99’ means: "49-99 stands for ‘Forty nine, ninety-nine’ and not ‘Four thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine’ or ‘Four nine nine nine'."

It is also a number Fela Kuti used in the 1978 album Shuffering and Shmiling – 49 commuters sitting and 99 standing in the then popular Lagos mass transit Molue buses.

"I wanted my first global single to have a message that we are suffering and smiling and music is a powerful tool," Tiwa Savage, who inked a deal with Universal Music in May, said.  "And I wanted a title which could be a conversation starter like 49 people sitting and 99 standing, like we’re suffering and smiling. It’s just a reflection of the economy and the inbalance with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer."

Motown Records' Ethiopia Habtemariam said: “We are beyond excited to work with Tiwa Savage, one of Africa’s most talented and prolific singer and songwriters of this generation.

"Tiwa Savage has been at the forefront of creating music from the continent that connects people from around the globe. It is Tiwa’s undeniable gifts, immense talent, work ethic and resilience that has prepared her for this next chapter and we at Motown are proud to support her on this journey.”

The ‘49-99’ single is available for streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Deezer, iTunes and Apple Music.

Watch '49-99' below: