18 emerging Nigerian singers, songwriters, producers, and music professionals have been awarded fully funded scholarships worth over $2 million to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, following a training programme organized by the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation.
The scholarships were announced during a grand finale concert held at the National Theatre in Lagos, where the finalists showcased their skills after a week-long intensive programme. The initiative ran from April 22 to 26, 2026, bringing together 120 participants across different areas of music creation and performance.
The programme, delivered in partnership with Berklee College of Music, combined hands-on workshops, mentorship, and collaborative sessions covering live performance, songwriting, production, and the business of music. Berklee faculty members involved included top instructors across ensembles, percussion, voice, and global music programmes.
The finale concert, hosted by Darey Art Alade and Kie Kie, featured live band performances across Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, jazz, and fusion, with standout moments including renditions of classics like Killing Me Softly, Papaoutai, and Afrobeats hits such as Ayra Starr’s Bloody Samaritan. Guest appearances included performances from Loud Choir and Teni.
Speaking at the event, Tiwa Savage described the moment as emotional and historic, saying the foundation was created to bring world-class music education to Nigeria and empower African creatives to compete globally. Berklee’s Dean of Admissions, Damien Bracken, also praised the programme for encouraging collaboration and long-term artistic development.
The event was attended by several entertainment personalities.
