Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, a new initiative aimed at supporting young African creatives across different areas of the music industry.
The foundation is designed to broaden access to professional training for aspiring producers, songwriters, sound engineers and other creative professionals who play key roles in shaping the music business but often lack structured learning opportunities on the continent.
Announcing the initiative, Tiwa Savage said the global success of Afrobeats has shown the importance of building strong creative ecosystems beyond performers alone.
In collaboration with her alma mater, Berklee College of Music, where she was awarded a scholarship at just 24 years old to pursue her dreams, the flagship course will offer free education, access to world-class training materials, and mentorship to 100 participants who will be selected based on merit.
She said her experience as a student at Berklee College of Music shaped her understanding of how education and access can expand creative possibilities. Tiwa Savage, who attended the institution in the mid-2000s, said exposure to global systems helped her better navigate the business side of music and understand the value of ownership and structure.
The singer said the foundation is intended to extend similar opportunities to young Africans who may not have access to world-class training.
Scheduled to take place in Lagos from April 23rd to 26th, 2026, the program marks the first time the world-renowned institution will bring its academic rigour and elite music education directly to the city of Lagos. The four-day intensive program is designed to provide budding talent with comprehensive, hands-on experience that covers the spectrum of the music world.
Participants will receive instruction on performance and artistry while gaining a deeper understanding of the opportunities available behind the scenes, including production, management, and music technology.
By providing these tools, the program aims to equip African creatives with the knowledge required to compete on a global scale while remaining rooted in their local identity.
“An industry cannot thrive on artists alone,” she said. “Behind every global sound is a network of producers, engineers, lawyers, publishers and innovators. If we do not deliberately invest in developing these roles, we weaken the foundation of the industry.”
“Talent exists everywhere, but access does not,” she said, adding that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are already reshaping music production and distribution, making structured learning more urgent for African creatives.
