Tiwa Savage officially unveiled the “Tiwa Savage Music Foundation” on March 9, 2026, at the upscale The Delborough in Lagos.
The event marked a pivotal moment for the Nigerian music industry, drawing an impressive cross-section of entertainment heavyweights, business tycoons, and public sector leaders to celebrate an initiative poised to reshape access to professional music education across Africa.
The 46-year-old global sensation, known for hits like “Somebody’s Son” and her trailblazing role in elevating Afrobeats worldwide, positioned the foundation as far more than a talent showcase. It aims to address a critical gap: while Africa, particularly Nigeria, brims with raw, extraordinary talent, many aspiring creatives lack the infrastructure, training, and global networks needed to thrive professionally.
Speaking passionately at the launch, Savage emphasized a holistic approach to the music ecosystem. “This is everything to do with music film scoring, music publishing, music therapy, production, and sound engineering,” she told the gathered crowd. “We don’t lack talent in Nigeria; we have so much talent. What I want to do is create access so that people who have the talent can find the right infrastructure, education, and a bridge and pipeline to the rest of the world.”
The foundation’s debut program underscores this vision: the ‘Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program,’ a four-day immersive training set for April 23–26, 2026, in Lagos.
In partnership with Berklee College of Music—Savage’s own alma mater, where she studied in the mid-2000s on scholarship—Berklee faculty will travel to Nigeria to deliver world-class instruction to 100 selected emerging creatives from across the continent.
The fully funded program (no tuition fees for participants) will cover essential skills, including songwriting, live performance, music production, and the business side of the industry. A select few standouts will earn full scholarships to attend Berklee, including accommodation support.
Applications, open to musicians, producers, songwriters, sound engineers, instrumentalists, and other behind-the-scenes professionals, remain available until March 20, 2026, via the foundation’s official channels.
Savage drew directly from her personal journey in explaining the inspiration. Her time at Berklee provided structured exposure to ownership, professional development, and industry systems—elements she believes can transform careers when made accessible locally. “Opportunity favors the prepared,” she advised aspiring applicants. “This is the first of many years; even if you don’t get it this year, you will have the chance to prepare for next year.”
Attendees included media powerhouse Mo Abudu, talent manager Bose Ogulu, TV personality Toke Makinwa, musician Darey Art Alade, socialite Yeni Kuti, singer Johnny Drille and his wife Layal Holm, entrepreneur Shade Okoya, music executive Soso Soberekon, and others from entertainment and beyond.
Business and political figures such as Olasupo Olusi (Managing Director/CEO of Bank of Industry), Adaora Umeoji (Group MD/CEO of Zenith Bank), and Festus Osifo (President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria) also lent their presence, highlighting cross-sector support for the creative economy.
Savage stressed the value of partnerships in sustaining such efforts. “I don’t think you can ever have enough foundations. We are all trying to make Nigeria and the world a better place,” she said, noting ongoing fundraising and collaboration needs.
Long-term, the foundation envisions mentorship programs, ongoing resources, and career pathways that extend beyond performance to nurture producers, executives, therapists, and more. Savage has hinted at ambitions for a permanent, brick-and-mortar music institution in Africa offering Berklee-caliber training on the continent.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tiwa Savage has launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation to directly tackle one critical barrier in African music: the lack of access to world-class professional training and global opportunities.
100 emerging African creatives will receive free, intensive, Berklee College of Music-led training in Lagos this April (23–26, 2026), with top participants earning full scholarships to study at Berklee—including accommodation—completely funded by the foundation.
Applications are open until March 20, 2026. This is a game-changing, hands-on bridge from raw talent to international industry readiness.
