Africa’s Afrobeats queen is giving back and in the most powerful way possible.
Tiwa Savage has launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, a new initiative aimed at discovering and developing the next generation of African music talent, designed to widen access to structured, world-class music education across the continent.
The foundation’s flagship project is a partnership with one of the world’s most prestigious music institutions — Berklee College of Music. And for Tiwa, this is deeply personal. At just 24 years old, she was awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, where she pursued her dreams — an opportunity she credits for shaping the artist she became. Now she is making sure others get that same chance.
The foundation’s inaugural initiative — the Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, will see Berklee faculty travel to Lagos from April 23 to 26, 2026, to lead a fully funded four-day intensive training session for 100 emerging Nigerian music creators. It marks the first ever Berklee College of Music event in West Africa.
The programme will train 100 selected participants in live performance, songwriting, music production and the business side of music, concluding with a live showcase where participants present original work blending global music styles with West African traditions. A closing ceremony will follow, including the presentation of scholarship awards.
And the vision doesn’t stop there. Beyond the Lagos intensive, the foundation’s long-term goals include awarding scholarships for Nigerian students to study at Berklee in Boston and ultimately establishing a permanent music school in Nigeria.
Tiwa said it best herself:
“An industry cannot thrive on artists alone. Behind every global sound is a network of producers, engineers, lawyers, publishers and innovators. If we do not deliberately invest in developing these roles, we weaken the foundation of the industry.”
Applications are open until March 20, 2026, to emerging musicians, producers and songwriters across Africa. The programme is fully funded with no tuition required for accepted participants.
This is legacy. This is leadership. This is Tiwa Savage.
To apply for the Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, visit the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation‘s official channels for details.
Photo credit: tiwasavage/Instagram
