The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation marked a landmark moment in Nigerian music education on April 26, as it hosted the graduation and concert of the Berklee in Nigeria inaugural class of 2026 at the National Theatre, Lagos, while awarding over 2.1 million dollars in scholarships to 18 students.
The ceremony was the culmination of a four-day intensive music education program held from April 22 to 25 at the Muson Centre School of Music, delivered in partnership with Berklee College of Music.
The program, the first of its kind to formally bring Berklee’s institutional curriculum and faculty to the African continent, drew over 2,100 applications, marking the largest applicant pool Berklee on the Road has ever received globally, from which 120 emerging Nigerian artists were selected to participate.
Over the four days, students worked across Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, jazz, and fusion genres, receiving intensive classroom instruction, ensemble practice, one-on-one scholarship interviews, and specialist lectures from six members of Berklee’s faculty. The faculty lineup included Dennis Montgomery III, Yoron Israel, Tyrone Chase, Nichelle Mungo, Anthony Nembhard, and Jason Camelio.
The Grand Finale Concert and Award Ceremony brought together music industry executives, cultural leaders, artists, and members of the public at Nigeria’s most iconic cultural venue. The evening featured live performances by the Class of 2026, original compositions developed during the week, and the on-stage presentation of full three-year undergraduate scholarships to Berklee College of Music in Boston. The ceremony was hosted by Darey Art Alade and Kiekie.
For the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, the event represents more than a graduation, as it is actively building an infrastructure rooted in the belief that real impact lies in creating access, structures, and opportunities for the next generation of African music talent.
