Nigerian Afrobeats star, Tiwa Savage, has unveiled the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, a new initiative aimed at nurturing emerging African creatives in partnership with Berklee College of Music, which will be coming to Lagos for the first time.
The 46-year-old singer announced the development on her social media platform on Wednesday, declaring, “After years of building globally… It’s time to build at home.”
She introduced the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation as “a new initiative dedicated to empowering emerging African creatives through access, mentorship and world-class music education.” She added, “For the first time ever, Berklee comes to Lagos with the Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Programme empowering Africa’s next generation of talent.”
Berklee College of Music, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is the world’s largest independent college of contemporary music. The institution is widely known for its programmes in jazz, modern American music and other genres such as rock, hip hop and reggae.
In an interview with CNN, the “Ma Lo” singer explained that although Afrobeats has achieved global recognition, the industry still needs stronger structures to remain sustainable in the long term.
“Afrobeats has captured the world’s attention, but attention alone is not enough to sustain an industry. Talent is universal — but access is not,” she said.
According to CNN, the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation is designed to close that access gap by creating opportunities for African creatives who may not have the financial means or exposure required to advance their careers.
Beyond supporting vocalists and performers, the foundation will also focus on producers, composers, sound engineers and music business professionals. Savage believes these areas are essential to building a strong and durable creative economy across Africa.
The foundation’s first major project, titled Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Programme, will see Berklee faculty travel to Lagos from April 23 to 26, 2026. During the four-day period, they will host a fully funded training for 100 emerging Nigerian music creators.
The programme marks Berklee’s first-ever event in West Africa.
Savage highlighted the value of short but focused training sessions, noting, “You’d be surprised how much you can learn in four days. It gives you a taste of what’s possible and exposes you to parts of music you may not even realise you’re drawn to.”
The intensive programme will combine music theory with practical, real-world applications. Participants will receive training in music production, songwriting, harmony, ear training and sound engineering. There will also be sessions on music publishing, copyright and aspects of entertainment law.
The four-day initiative will end with live ensemble performances by participants, allowing them to showcase what they have learned during the programme.
Outstanding participants may also be considered for future scholarships to study at Berklee in Boston or to enrol in its online courses. This positions the Lagos training as a gateway to long-term global opportunities rather than a one-off workshop.
Savage told CNN that the idea for the foundation was inspired by her personal journey and a sense of urgency to create more access for young Africans.
She noted that tuition at leading international music schools can range between $40,000 and $60,000 per year, excluding living expenses. According to her, this financial burden makes formal music education inaccessible to many talented young Africans.
“It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for years,” she said.
Savage herself once benefited from a scholarship to Berklee as a young artist, an opportunity she said reshaped her understanding of the music industry.
“That experience changed how I saw music,” she said. “It made me realise that talent alone isn’t enough. Structure, education, and exposure are what allow creatives to compete globally.”
With the launch of the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation and the upcoming intensive programme in Lagos, the award-winning singer is now focused on building sustainable structures at home while extending global-level opportunities to the next generation of African creatives.
