A playful social media jab between two of Nigeria’s biggest female music stars has turned into one of the week’s most talked-about Afrobeats stories, after singer Teni (Teniola Apata) publicly challenged Tiwa Savage to a boxing match — and Savage appeared to accept.

In a video that began circulating on October 3 and quickly went viral across Nigerian social media, Teni called out her fellow artist directly. “Mama, make we fight,” she said, addressing Tiwa Savage, before doubling down with a confident prediction: “Teni and Tiwa Savage next. Let’s start from there. I will beat you.”

Teni didn’t stop at the trash talk. She floated a staggering purse for the hypothetical bout, joking about what she would do with the winnings: “If they pay us ₦1.5 billion, can I buy a Bugatti?” In a caption accompanying her video, she wrote, “MAMA!!! Make we fight @tiwasavage 3billion later I go apologise for outside the boxing ring,” mixing bravado with her trademark comic delivery.

Rather than brushing off the challenge, Tiwa Savage responded in the comments with a short but pointed reply: “Pick a date.” The two-word response was enough to send fans into a frenzy, with many reading it as Savage calling Teni’s bluff and effectively accepting the matchup.

The exchange lands amid a broader wave of interest in celebrity boxing across Nigeria’s entertainment scene, with recent bouts involving Big Brother Naija alumni drawing large audiences both in arenas and online. Pairing two chart-topping singers with massive fan bases would almost certainly generate similar buzz, though as of this week no date, venue, promoter or official rules have been announced for a Teni–Tiwa fight.

Both artists are heavyweights of the Afrobeats scene in their own right. Tiwa Savage, often referred to as the “Queen of Afrobeats,” has built a career spanning more than a decade of hits and remains one of the genre’s most recognisable voices internationally. Teni, known for her comedic persona as much as her music, has carved out a lane blending humor with chart success, making her social media challenges nearly as popular as her songs.

Whether the proposed fight ever makes it into an actual ring remains to be seen — celebrity challenges issued online don’t always translate into real bouts. But for now, the back-and-forth has given fans plenty to debate, from who would actually win to whether a ₦1.5 billion purse is even realistic. Sierra Leone News will continue to follow the story if either artist makes the matchup official.

Sources: Pulse Nigeria, Gistreel, The Guardian Nigeria