Tiwa Savage Foundation, Berklee wrap inaugural Nigeria music programme

Held from 22 to 26 April, the five-day initiative brought together 120 emerging Nigerian artists, songwriters, producers and music professionals for training in live performance, songwriting, music production and music business practices.

The programme aimed to connect Nigeria’s music industry with international music education standards through workshops, collaborative sessions and mentorship led by Berklee faculty members.

The event concluded with a concert and award ceremony at the National Theatre, where participants performed original works developed during the programme. Hosted by Darey Art Alade and Kie Kie, the showcase featured performances spanning Afrobeats, R&B, hip hop, gospel, jazz and fusion music.

Guest performances were delivered by Loud Choir and Teni.

“Seeing these young musicians take the stage at the National Theatre was a deeply emotional and proud moment for me,” Tiwa Savage said. “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.”

Faculty members involved in the programme included Dennis Montgomery, Yoron Israel, Tyrone Chase, Nichelle Mungo and Anthony Nembhard, alongside Jason Camelio, Berklee’s assistant vice-president of global programmes and partnerships.

Damien Bracken said 27 musicians were auditioned and interviewed during the programme, with scholarships awarded to selected participants.

“We auditioned and interviewed a total of 27 highly skilled musicians, and today we will award in excess of $2.1 million in merit scholarships to assist these candidates to successfully enrol at Berklee in Boston next year,” Bracken said.

He added that the institution hoped to continue collaborating with Savage on future initiatives linked to music education and talent development in Africa.

According to organisers, 18 participants received fully funded undergraduate scholarships to study at Berklee in Boston, representing more than $2m in scholarship funding. All 120 participants also received graduation certificates at the closing ceremony.

The finale attracted an audience of more than 1 000 people, including government representatives, music industry executives, members of the media and cultural figures such as Yeni Kuti.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation to expand access to music education and professional development opportunities for African creatives.