In an interview with FORBES AFRICA, Tiwa Savage revealed that her long-term ambition is to establish a physical music academy in Africa that would deliver world-class education on par with Berklee, giving creatives the opportunity to study at home on the continent. Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actor Tiwa Savage has unveiled her self-titled music foundation, created to identify and nurture the next generation of African music talents.For its flagship initiative in Nigeria, Savage is collaborating with her alma mater, the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
“Afrobeats has grown globally, and I felt a responsibility to help build a structure behind the sound. Not just spotlighting the artistes—this foundation is really my way of turning gratitude into opportunity and investing in the ecosystem that will sustain our legacy. Music opened doors for me. I’ve always seen how many talented creatives never really get access to training, mentorship, and industry pathways,” Savage, born Tiwatope Omolara Savage, tells FORBES AFRICA. She explains that her time at Berklee, where she graduated in 2007 on a partial scholarship, gave her both elite training and the confidence to thrive creatively. She believes working with the institution will lend global credibility and standards to the foundation.
“I’ve always known when I was leaving Berklee that I would love to give that opportunity that I had, to other creators in Africa. It matters now. African music is literally at a global reflection point, and education is how we ensure our creatives don’t just participate in the industry. They’re part of the stakeholders as well,” she adds. The inaugural program, titled Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, is scheduled for late April in Lagos. According to details released about the collaboration, 100 participants from across Africa will be selected. While tuition will be fully covered, participants will be responsible for their travel and accommodation costs.
“I don’t even think 100 is enough. Africa has so much talent, I don’t even know how we are going to be able to reduce it to just 100 students in the first program, but we are starting with 100. It’s going to be a four-day intensive program combining theory with practical. I love the fact that we are awarding scholarships to students to actually go to Boston at the end of the program and earn like an undergraduate degree from Berklee. Not everyone is going to be able to fly all the way there. Eventually, I want to build an actual institution here in Africa,” she notes.
In a statement, Berklee President Jim Lucchese described the collaboration as the school’s first Berklee on the Road (BOR) program in Nigeria, saying it would broaden access to Berklee’s curriculum globally through the support and partnership of one of its accomplished alumni. He added that the initiative offers a unique opportunity for artists worldwide. Savage emphasizes that the foundation will not focus solely on performers but will also support other key players within the music ecosystem, such as producers, sound engineers, publishers, and music therapists.
“We have a lot of artistes, but we need the industry that will sustain the artistes. The music industry is a value chain. Every single link is important. The spotlight is on artistes now and we have so many amazing labels in Africa and beyond that can sign artistes. But who’s paying attention to the industry that will support the artistes? This is my passion and this is what the foundation is about,” she explains.
According to Savage, the true measure of the foundation’s impact will be seen in how many participants secure internships, paid roles, or professional opportunities, as well as in the expansion of African-owned industry structures. “Success is stronger because African music infrastructure needs to grow. So, more qualified professionals across key roles will lead to better intellectual property (IP) literacy, more sustainable careers. Talent alone in today’s industry is not enough. You need knowledge. You need to understand that you are participating in a global market, even if you’re not traveling around the world,” she says.
Source: https://www.forbesafrica.com/
