The inaugural initiative, Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, will take place April 23–26, 2026.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
Nigerian Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has officially launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation in partnership with Berklee College of Music, a new philanthropic initiative dedicated to discovering, developing, and empowering the next generation of African music creatives.
The Foundation is rooted in the belief that the music industry is far bigger than just the artiste. Behind every global hit are producers, songwriters, sound engineers, music executives, and creative professionals whose work shapes culture. Yet across Africa, access to structured, world-class training for these careers remains limited. The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation was created to expand that access, building pathways not only for performers, but for the broader ecosystem that sustains the music industry.
The inaugural initiative, Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, will take place April 23–26, 2026. Designed as a bridge between Africa’s thriving music economy and global music education standards, the four-day intensive will train 100 students and provide hands-on instruction in live performance, songwriting, music production, and the business of music.
Speaking on the launch of the Foundation, Tiwa Savage shared: “Afrobeats has captured the world’s attention, but an industry cannot stand on artistes alone. Behind every global sound is an ecosystem of producers, engineers, entertainment lawyers, publishers, innovators, composers, and the person who scores the music for your favourite movie or uses music as a tool for healing. These are the architects of structure, ownership and longevity. If we do not intentionally develop them, we weaken the very house we are trying to grow”.
As a Berklee alumna herself (Berklee PDM ‘07), the program reflects her journey from student to global star and her commitment to creating structured pathways for emerging African talent to access elite training, mentorship, and industry insight without leaving the continent.
The Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program will run daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Applications are now open through March 20, 2026, to emerging musicians, producers, songwriters, and creators across Africa. There is no tuition cost for accepted participants; however, attendees will be responsible for their travel and accommodation in Lagos.
At its core, the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation is about expanding what’s possible, showing young Africans the many careers within music and providing them with access and resources to pursue them.
Apply to the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation here