Participants perform at the National Theatre Lagos as 18 Nigerian musicians receive $2 million Berklee scholarships through Tiwa Savage Music Foundation programme.
Eighteen emerging Nigerian singers, songwriters, producers, and music professionals have received three-year, fully funded scholarships to study at the Berklee College of Music in the United States.
The scholarships, valued at over $2 million, followed a training programme organised by the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation.
The beneficiaries were announced at a grand finale concert held at the National Theatre Lagos.
The programme ran from April 22 to 26, 2026, with about 120 participants drawn from across the music value chain, including performers, producers, and industry professionals.
The initiative was delivered in partnership with Berklee through a four-day emerging musicianship intensive, focused on performance, songwriting, music production, and the business aspects of music.
Participants engaged in workshops, collaborative sessions, and mentorship led by faculty members from Berklee.
Faculty involved in the programme included Dennis Montgomery, Yoron Israel, Tyrone Chase, Nichelle Mungo, Anthony Nembhard, and Jason Camelio.
The finale event, hosted by Darey Art Alade and Kie Kie, featured live performances of original works developed during the programme.
Performances spanned genres including Afrobeats, R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Jazz, and fusion. The concert also included renditions of songs such as Killing Me Softly by Roberta Flack, works by Stevie Wonder, Bloody Samaritan by Ayra Starr, and Papaoutai by Stromae.
Guest performances were delivered by Loud Choir and Teni.
Speaking at the event, Tiwa Savage said the programme aims to expand access to structured music education and global opportunities for Nigerian creatives.
Also speaking, Damien Bracken said the initiative focused on collaboration, creative development, and long-term career growth for participants.
About The Author
