18 Nigerian Musicians Earn Fully Funded Places at Berklee College of Music in Boston as Inaugural Berklee in Nigeria Programme Concludes with a Historic Night at the National Theatre

The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, in partnership with Berklee College of Music, has successfully concluded the inaugural Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, marking the Berklee’s first appearance in Nigeria.

Held over five days from April 22nd –26th, 2026, the program brought together 120 of Nigeria’s most promising emerging artists, songwriters, producers, and music professionals for an immersive, world-class training experience delivered on home soil for the very first time.

Designed as a bridge between Africa’s thriving music economy and global education standards, the intensive provided hands-on learning across live performance, songwriting, music production, and the business of music. Participants engaged directly with Berklee’s distinguished faculty through workshops, collaborative sessions, and mentorship, gaining both technical skills and critical industry insight.

The program culminated in a landmark Grand Finale Concert & Award Ceremony at the National Theatre, hosted by Darey Art Alade and Kie Kie, where participants presented original works developed during the intensive. The live concert featured band-backed performances across Afrobeats, R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Jazz, and fusion, with ensembles led by Berklee faculty performing everything from Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis to Masego, Ayra Starr, and Ne-Yo, alongside original compositions. The evening also featured electrifying guest performances by Loud Choir and Teni the Entertainer, highlighting the depth, diversity, and global potential of Nigeria’s next generation of music talent.

Speaking on the successful completion of the program, Tiwa Savage shared, “Seeing these young musicians take the stage at the National Theatre was a deeply emotional and proud moment for me. 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. This is only the beginning of our mission to ensure that African creatives have the tools, the structure, and the platform to lead the world stage.”

Berklee faculty members who led the program included Dennis Montgomery (Academic Director, Professor of Ensembles), Yoron Israel (Chair of Percussion), Tyrone Chase (Assistant Chair of Ensembles), Nichelle Mungo (Associate Professor of Voice), Anthony Nembhard (Assistant Professor of Ensembles), alongside Jason Camelio (Program Director and Assistant Vice President of Global Programs and Partnerships), who oversees Berklee’s global initiatives.

“It was such a pleasure to review the results of our Berklee auditions and interviews at the inaugural Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program. Having known Tiwa since she enrolled at Berklee, it was clear to us then that she was on a path to success in the music industry and it is particularly inspiring that she has leveraged her success to give back to her community here in Nigeria in such a meaningful and special way. 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 enroll at Berklee in Boston next year. We are hopeful that this is just the first of many engagements and collaborations with Tiwa as we work together to bring Africa to Berklee and continue to positively impact the global music industry.” – Dean of Admissions, Damien Bracken

Beyond performance, the program emphasized collaboration, creative exploration, and long-term career development. Select participants were recognized during the closing ceremony with scholarship opportunities and continued pathways into Berklee’s global programs, reinforcing the initiative’s commitment to sustained growth beyond the classroom.

The finale showcase welcomed an audience of over 1,000 attendees, including members of the U.S. Consulate, industry executives, cultural leaders, media, government representatives, and music enthusiasts, among them Yeni Kuti, daughter of the legendary Fela Kuti. The evening was opened with remarks from Foluso Phillips, Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria and sitting Board of Trustee member of the foundation, and closed with a scholarship awards presentation in which 18 students were awarded fully funded undergraduate places at Berklee College of Music in Boston, representing over $2 million in scholarships, with graduation certificates presented to all 120 participants. The event was positioned as both a cultural milestone and a high-impact platform for emerging talent, underscoring that the programme’s impact extends far beyond the classroom.

The inaugural edition of Berklee in Nigeria represents a historic first for the institution on the African continent and underscores the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation’s broader mission to expand access to structured, world-class music education. By bringing this level of training directly to Nigeria, the initiative removes barriers to entry and creates new pathways for African creatives to compete, collaborate, and lead on a global stage.

The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation continues to expand what is possible for African creatives by spotlighting talent, and investing in the knowledge, structure, and access required to sustain it.

The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation is proudly sponsored by; Flutterwave, Zenith Bank, Providus Bank, PepsiCo, Lagos State Government, MUSON Centre, Noella Foundation, Bank of Industry, Mich & Harry, LIRS, Mama Cass and Hans & Rene.

To apply and learn more, visit: https://www.berklee.edu/berkleeontheroad