Tiwa Savage has always carried home with her. From Lagos to London and onto the world’s biggest stages, her music has remained deeply Nigerian even as it reached a global audience. Every step forward grew from where she started. Now, she is turning that journey inward, not to look back, but to create room for others to move ahead.
In 2026, she will launch the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, beginning with a partnership shaped by personal experience. Working with Berklee College of Music, she will bring specialized music education to Lagos, training 100 emerging Nigerian musicians, producers, composers, and music professionals. For four days in April, Berklee faculty will lead an intensive programme in the city, marking the first time Berklee is delivering this type of training in West Africa.
Years ago, Tiwa stood where many young Nigerian creatives stand today, rich in talent but uncertain about access. A scholarship to Berklee opened her eyes to the wider music industry, showing her that success depends not only on talent, but on understanding songwriting, production, sound engineering, publishing, and the business systems that protect creative work. That knowledge shaped the career she later built.
As her music travelled beyond Nigeria, Afrobeats gained global attention but the rise revealed a gap. Songs were reaching the world faster than the systems needed to support the people behind them. Too many creatives were visible without protection and celebrated without ownership. For Tiwa, education became the bridge between attention and lasting impact.
The Lagos programme is designed to close that gap. Daily sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., combining lectures, workshops, and ensemble training in a collaborative environment. Participants will receive hands-on instruction in songwriting, music production, sound engineering, harmony, and ear training, alongside practical lessons in music publishing, copyright, and entertainment law. The programme also highlights career paths beyond performance, including producing, engineering, and creative entrepreneurship.
Applications open on February 24, 2026, and close on March 20, 2026. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a minimum of one year’s experience with their instrument or voice, and be able to travel to Lagos. There is no tuition fee, though participants will cover their own travel, accommodation, and meals. As part of the application process, candidates will submit a short performance video of two to three minutes through platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo.
Standout talents may be considered for further learning opportunities, including scholarships or online study, creating pathways that extend beyond the four-day programme.
Tiwa’s vision goes beyond singers alone. She sees music as a system supported by producers, engineers, composers, and business professionals. Strengthening this ecosystem, she believes, is the only way African music can grow without losing control of its value.
Nigeria sits at the heart of one of the fastest-growing music markets in the world, driven by youth, creativity, and global demand but growth without structure leaves creatives exposed. By investing in education and access, Tiwa is pushing for a future where Nigerian talent does more than travel far, it stands firm.
This foundation is only the beginnin because beyond this programme lies a wider vision of building lasting music institutions at home, designed to serve generations.
For Tiwa Savage, this moment is not about applause or headlines , It is about possibility. By opening doors and sharing knowledge, she is helping shape a future where Nigerian music is not only heard around the world, but fully owned by the people who create it.
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