You only have to stumble on SGaWD’s music once. And then you’re stuck. Many say it’s the bounce of her rap lines. For others, it’s her sultry use of the Ibibio language from South-southern Nigeria. However, it would be safe to say that for most people, it’s everything she represents – fierceness, immense talent, feminism, beauty and swag.
“I believe I am a reflection of God’s love and image here on earth. So whatever I do here, there’s a bigger figure I answer to.”
SGaWD is an alté and hip-hop artiste who uses her melodic voice and rap bars to explore and discuss her sensuality without holding back. Trained to be a lawyer, but having found a path for herself in show business, “Seddy” is not leaving any stone unturned when it comes to working on her sound, brand and persona.
This is evident in her latest project, The Gawd – Side A. It features solely Ghana’s Moliy, but is a solid sonic project as it embodies all the different sides to the artiste – from fast rap, to melodies and resplendent songwriting.
She chats with Funmilayo for DigiMillennials in this piece that has been edited for length and clarity.
How did you come about the name “SGaWD”?
So, ‘S’ is for ‘Seddy the Siren’. The siren is ‘Sena’, an innate goddess whose story resonates with me. I took the ‘S’ and just added GaWD to the back, so yeah, “SGawd”.
What inspired your career transition from law to music?
I genuinely always liked music and always wanted to explore it and do it. Not to say I don’t like law, but, I’ve just wanted to do music. I understand how people say it’s so random because law is this monotonous industry and music is this side that allows you to express and capitalize on your creativity and they are so far-fetched. But it somehow just came together for me and now I’m here.
“My work will be used as a reference point in future when looking at women who dared to go against it all.
What word or phrase would best describe your kind of music?
Feel-good music. Music is not just a reflection of me, but also my environment and the energy around me.
Who and who would you call the biggest influences on your sound?
That’s a very unfair question because I have a lot of influences. I listen to a lot of musicians but one particular thing that’s peculiar to the people I listen to is them maintaining a streak of excellence. Whether it’s in lyricism, performance or how they present themselves, there’s that excellence. I just love it when people do their thing while maintaining that individuality to it.
Tell us about The Gawd – Side A. How did it come about? What was its creation process like?
It’s a mixtape full of vibes, but that was carefully thought out. The songs weren’t created around the same time. I made Juice Box in 2020/21 when I first met Jessie Alodia and I didn’t get the feature of the song till 2024. I didn’t even open it till 2023 because it was that song I never wanted to release.
Favourite Girl too wasn’t supposed to come out, but I did a video on Twitter, it went viral and people kept asking for it.
The EP basically had me putting sounds together that people had not heard from me, especially because I was tired of being boxed. It’s to show my kind of music, which is music for different kinds of people. It’s to also show my growth.
My first project was pure rap and with this EP, I wanted to experiment with singing and show my listeners I don’t just rap but I also sing. Basically, to show them my diverse sides.
What’s your favorite and most challenging track from the project and why so?
My favourite used to be Favourite Girl because when I compiled the project, it was so fun and I spoke my language, which was very sweet. Now when I listen to Money Prayer, I get a bit emotional because of the things I spoke about – my journey, and hearing my mom’s voice – makes me emotional and puts everything in perspective.
My most challenging was Juice Box because of how long it took me to make.
How has the industry been so far to you, especially as a woman from the South-South?
There’s something I’m going to say and I don’t care if anyone thinks I’m being tribalist; the Yoruba card pays. In this industry, if you’re from the West, it always pays. But you can’t blame it because if all your people are in one place, you’ll naturally gravitate there.
I’m happy to see other tribes coming out and playing major parts and getting the recognition they deserve such as Young Jonn, Shallipopi et al. So yeah, it inspires me more to own where I’m from. I’m from Akwa Ibom and I’ll use my language in my music. Hopefully, more videos will be shot in the South so people can see the beautiful landscape.
Is The GawD – Side B ready?
I can’t say yet, but one thing for sure is that it will be super exciting. Fingers crossed, there will be more features.
What would make you feel the most fulfilled at the end of the day?
It’s already happening. It’s amazing to see my name come up in conversations about African and Nigerian hip-hop, whether male or female. After all that’s said and done, my work will be used as a reference point in future by either artistes or archivists when looking at the history of Alte and Hip-hop in Nigeria and women who dared to go against it all.
If "Hermother's Daughter" isn't talking about something she is passionate about, then she's writing it. She is always in her head space, majorly thinking about what to cook or bake (to be frank, eat).
Itty can be caught studying African pop culture, writing about it or hosting a relationship podcast. When he's not doing any of these, then he's definitely at a bar, getting mocktail.
