By Ashiadey Dotse
Global Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has announced a new partnership with Berklee College of Music to train 100 emerging musicians and music professionals in Nigeria.
The 46-year-old singer is launching the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation to support young African creatives. The foundation’s first major project, titled Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, will bring Berklee lecturers to Lagos from April 23 to 26, 2026.
The four-day training program will be fully funded and free for selected participants. It will focus on music production, songwriting, sound engineering, harmony, ear training, music publishing, copyright, and entertainment law.
Speaking in an interview with CNN, Savage said Afrobeats may have captured global attention, but education is needed to sustain the industry.
“Talent is everywhere, but access is not,” she said, adding that the program will give young creatives exposure to new areas of music and help them discover their strengths.
The training will end with live ensemble performances. Outstanding participants may be considered for scholarships to study at Berklee in Boston or enroll in online courses. Savage said the goal is to create long-term opportunities rather than a one-time experience.
Savage revealed that the foundation was inspired by her own journey. As a young artist, she received a scholarship to study at Berklee in the United States. She said that experience changed her understanding of music and exposed her to the business side of the industry, including production, publishing and film scoring.
According to her, many young Nigerian creatives cannot afford international music education, where tuition can range between $40,000 and $60,000 per year, excluding living expenses. By covering all costs for the Lagos program, she hopes to remove financial barriers.
Savage stressed that the music industry goes beyond singers. She said producers, composers, engineers and music business professionals are all important in building a strong and lasting creative economy.
“The music industry is a value chain,” she explained. “Without the people who create, record, protect and promote the music, there is no industry.”
Sub-Saharan Africa is currently one of the fastest-growing regions for recorded music. In 2024, revenues in the region surpassed $110 million, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
Afrobeats streams on Spotify have also grown significantly in the past five years, with Nigeria becoming one of Africa’s leading music export markets.
Savage, however, warned that without proper education and institutional support, African creatives could remain globally visible but financially vulnerable.
“We have the world’s attention now, but education turns visibility into empowerment,” she said.
Beyond the Lagos intensive program, the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation plans to award scholarships for Nigerian students to study in Boston and eventually establish a permanent music school in Nigeria.
Applications for the program open on February 24, 2026, and close on March 20, 2026. The program is fully funded and requires no tuition fees for successful applicants.
