Tiwa Savage Foundation Partners with Berklee for Intensive Music Training in Lagos

Afrobeats artist Tiwa Savage has launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation (TSMF) to cultivate the next generation of African music professionals across the industry ecosystem, including producers, songwriters, and executive personnel. The initiative is rooted in Savage’s own experience as a scholarship recipient at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, an opportunity she credits with fundamentally shaping her understanding of the global music business.

The foundation’s inaugural project is the 'Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program,' a collaboration with Berklee College of Music. This marks the first official 'Berklee on the Road' program hosted in Nigeria, bringing Berklee’s instructional methodology directly to Lagos. The four-day, tuition-free training is scheduled to take place in Lagos from April 23 to April 26, 2026, aiming to connect Africa’s music economy with established global educational standards.

The selective immersion program will offer hands-on instruction in four core areas: performance, songwriting, production, and the business of music, covering aspects like publishing, copyright, and entertainment law. One hundred emerging music creators from across Africa will be selected to attend the daily sessions, which will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Applications for the program opened on February 24, 2026, and closed on March 20, 2026.

Savage stated that the foundation addresses the reality that while talent is universal, access to structured, world-class training for African creatives has historically been limited. The intensive will conclude with ensemble showcases featuring original work that blends contemporary global styles with West African musical traditions. High-achieving participants may also be considered for future scholarships to study at Berklee’s main campus in Boston or through its online programs.

This effort occurs as the African music ecosystem, driven by the global ascent of Afrobeats, requires robust infrastructure to sustain growth. Berklee President Jim Lucchese confirmed the collaboration’s significance, noting it expands access to the Berklee curriculum globally through the support of one of its distinguished alumni. By focusing on the entire ecosystem, TSMF seeks to ensure the sustained competitive advantage of African music internationally.