Award winning Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage is taking a bold step to shape the future of African music. The global Afrobeats star has launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation and announced a partnership with Berklee College of Music to train 100 emerging Nigerian music creators in Lagos.
The new initiative, titled the Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, will bring Berklee faculty members to Lagos from April 23 to April 26, 2026. Over four days, 100 selected participants will receive fully funded training in key areas of music creation and the business behind it.
This will be the first Berklee College of Music event held in West Africa. It also marks a major moment for a region that is seeing fast growth in the global music industry.
Speaking to CNN, Savage explained the vision behind the project.
“Afrobeats has captured the world’s attention, but attention alone is not enough to sustain an industry. Talent is universal — but access is not,” the singer told CNN.
The program blends classroom learning with practical experience. Participants will study music production, songwriting, sound engineering, harmony, and ear training. Ear training helps musicians identify pitches, chords, and melodies by sound. The training will also cover music publishing, copyright, and parts of entertainment law.
Savage believes even a short program can make a big impact.
“You’d be surprised how much you can learn in four days,” Savage said in an exclusive interview with CNN. “It gives you a taste of what’s possible and exposes you to parts of music you may not even realize you’re drawn to”
The training will end with live ensemble performances. Outstanding participants may be considered for future scholarships to study at Berklee in Boston, Massachusetts, or take online courses. This means the program is not just a one time opportunity, but a possible pathway to long term education and global careers.
Savage said the foundation grew from both experience and urgency. She noted that tuition at leading international music schools can cost between 40,000 and 60,000 dollars per year, excluding living expenses. For many young creatives in Nigeria and across Africa, that cost is out of reach. By fully funding the Lagos program, the foundation aims to close that gap.
“It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for years,” she said It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for years,” she said “That experience changed how I saw music,” she said. “It made me realize that talent alone isn’t enough. Structure, education, and exposure are what allow creatives to compete globally.”
The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation is not focused only on singers. It also supports producers, composers, engineers, and music business professionals. Savage stressed that these roles are key to building a strong creative economy.
“The music industry is a value chain,” she said. “You can be the most talented artist in the world, but without the people who create, capture, protect, and monetize music, there is no industry. If we want African music to last five, 10, 20 years from now, we have to invest in the entire ecosystem.”
The timing of this initiative is important. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, recorded music revenues in Sub Saharan Africa passed 110 million dollars in 2024. Afrobeats streams on Spotify have grown by more than 500 percent in the past five years. Nigeria remains one of Africa’s biggest music export markets. The country also has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a median age of about 18.
Despite this growth, Savage warned that without proper education and institutional support, African creators may remain visible but financially vulnerable.
“We have the world’s attention now,” she said. “But education is what turns visibility into empowerment. It gives creatives the tools to move from being just talent to becoming leaders, innovators, and stakeholders in the global industry.
Looking ahead, the foundation plans to award scholarships for Nigerian students to study at Berklee in Boston. Savage also hopes to one day establish a permanent music school in Nigeria.
“That’s the bigger vision,” Savage said. “To build something that outlives me— something that creates structure, opportunity, and ownership for future generations of African creatives.”
Applications for the Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program open on February 24, 2026, and close on March 20, 2026. The program is fully funded, and selected participants will not pay tuition.
Tiwa Savage’s new partnership with Berklee College of Music signals a strong commitment to the future of African music. By offering free, high level training to 100 young creators, the initiative aims to turn talent into lasting opportunity.
With applications set to open soon, many young Nigerian creatives will be watching closely as this new chapter unfolds.
