A major milestone has just been recorded in Nigeria’s creative space as 18 young music talents have secured fully funded scholarships worth over $2 million to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, following an intensive training program powered by the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation.
The announcement was made during a vibrant grand finale concert held at the National Theatre in Lagos, where the selected participants wrapped up a week-long creative bootcamp that ran from April 22 to 26, 2026. The programme brought together 120 emerging singers, songwriters, producers, and music professionals, all competing and collaborating across different aspects of music creation.
Designed in partnership with Berklee College of Music, the initiative blended workshops, mentorship sessions, and live collaborations covering performance, songwriting, production, and the business side of music. Faculty members from Berklee—spanning ensembles, percussion, voice, and global music studies—were directly involved in guiding the participants through the process.
The finale itself was nothing short of a showcase. Hosted by Darey Art Alade and Kie Kie, the concert featured live band performances cutting across Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, jazz, and fusion. Highlights of the night included creative renditions of classics like Killing Me Softly and Papaoutai, alongside Afrobeats favourites such as Ayra Starr’s Bloody Samaritan. Guest appearances from groups like Loud Choir and singer Teni added even more energy to the closing showcase.
Speaking at the event, Tiwa Savage described the moment as both emotional and historic, emphasizing the foundation’s mission to bridge the gap between Nigerian talent and world-class music education.
“Seeing these young musicians take the stage at the National Theatre was a deeply emotional and proud moment for me. When we started the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, the goal was to bring the world’s highest standards of music education home to Nigeria, and seeing 18 of our students receive life-changing scholarships to Berklee in Boston is proof that our talent is truly global. This is only the beginning of our mission to ensure that African creatives have the tools, the structure, and the platform to lead the world stage.”
Representing Berklee, Dean of Admissions Damien Bracken also praised the programme, noting how it encouraged collaboration and long-term artistic growth among participants.
The training was led by a team of Berklee faculty, including Dennis Montgomery, Yoron Israel, Tyrone Chase, Nichelle Mungo, Anthony Nembhard, and Jason Camelio, who oversees global programmes and partnerships.
With industry figures in attendance and 18 scholarships secured, the initiative has now positioned itself as a powerful bridge between Nigerian talent and global music education—one that could shape the next generation of African creatives on an international scale.
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