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Tiwa Savage Launches Music Foundation, Teams Up with Berklee to Empower African Creatives

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Tiwa Savage - Instagram

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Tiwa Savage took to her Instagram with the message “After years of building globally… It’s time to build at home”. She also announced the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation and a partnership with Berklee College of Music.

The 46-year-old Afrobeats star is on a mission to give young African creatives something she once had to travel far to find: access to formal music education. The first step is a fully funded four-day intensive programme called Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, taking place in Lagos from April 23 – 26, 2026, for 100 selected participants, tuition-free.

This is also a historic moment. It will be one of the first major Berklee-led programmes in West Africa.

“I know this personally because at the age of 24, I was awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music,” she said “It made me realise that talent alone isn’t enough. Structure, education, and exposure are what allow creatives to compete globally.”

Tiwa Savage – Instagram

Live performance, songwriting, music production, sound engineering, and the business side of music. But Tiwa also made it very clear that this is not just for artists. “An industry cannot stand on artists alone,” she said. “Behind every global sound is an ecosystem of producers, engineers, entertainment lawyers, publishers, innovators, composers.”

“As technology reshapes music, we must be prepared,” she said. “The question is whether we will be educated leaders in this space, or observers left behind.”

Berklee President Jim Lucchese described Tiwa as “one of our most accomplished and dedicated alumni and called the programme “a tremendous and unique opportunity for global artists.”

Applications opened up February 24, 2026 and will close March 20, 2026. It is open to musicians, producers, songwriters, sound engineers, and music creatives across Africa.

For years, African artists have travelled the world chasing an opportunity like this, but this time Tiwa Savage is bringing the opportunity home.

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Mercy Eke Brings Three Looks to Escape Magazine Shoot

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Photo: Josh Baram/Blackboy Photography

Mercy Eke appears on the cover of Escape Magazine’s Issue #15 in three different fashion looks. Titled The Business of Being Seen, the editorial presents a different side of her style with each outfit.

Photo: Josh Baram/Blackboy Photography

Her first look featured the black “Zina Feather Dress” by Elegant by Rachy. The two-piece was adorned with tiered black feathers and lace inserts along the sleeves, creating textured volume. Her hair was styled by Hairscobar into a low bun with soft tendrils. She accessorized the outfit with a black wide-brim boater hat lined with matching feathers and dangling bead fringe, paired with statement silver earrings.

Photo: Josh Baram/Blackboy Photography

Her second look was an earth-toned mermaid gown created by Victoria Style and styled by McNwatu. The dress was designed with a sharp, button-detailed beige high-collar crop jacket with large puff sleeves over a fitted corset bodice, which tapers down into a dramatically tiered, full floor-sweeping satin skirt. Her hair was styled into vintage-inspired side-parted finger waves by Hairscobar, while her makeup by v.e.l.o.u.r.a was in neutral tones. For accessories she wore minimal gold jewelry, closing out the look with footwear from premium shoe label DOT.

Photo: Josh Baram/Blackboy Photography

Her final look was a custom crimson-red Wandé Piece expertly made by Wandé of the brand Wandé official. The floor-length gown had a deep plunge peplum cut designed with delicate pearl work, sharp-angled shoulder arcs, and a straight-cut column ankle skirt trimmed with descending vertical crystal lines. Stylist Dan Stefan paired the outfit with an architectural, oversized red tilted disk fascinator from YUNIK and chunky silver bracelets. Her hair was styled into a low bun by Ope Oyebanji of Hairscobar to support the bold headpiece, and her makeup by v.e.l.o.u.r.a was done in nude shades. Mercy wore peep-toe pumps to complete the outfit.

The shoot was handled by Josh Baram and Blackboy Photography.

Since her time on Big Brother Naija, where she became the first woman to win the show, Mercy Eke has continued to build her name across business and entertainment, and shoots like this one remind fans why she remains a fashion favourite. Between the feathers, the corset, and the beaded red gown, this shoot didn’t just show three outfits. It showed three different sides of a woman who clearly knows how to work a camera.

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Tems Becomes First Female African Artist to Earn RIAA Diamond Certification

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Photo: Instagram

Tems has become the first female Africaartist to be credited on an RIAA Diamond-certified single. The achievement came through Future’s hit song WAIT FOR U,” featuring Drake and Tems.

The RIAA confirmed the certification as part of its latest list of award updates. Released in April 2022, Future single became a hit. The track includes Tems’ 2020 song Higher,” The song gave Future his first chart-topping single as a lead artist.

The Diamond certification is one of the RIAA’s highest recognitions. It is awarded only after a song reaches at least 10 million certified units in the United States.

Photo: Instagram

Tems’ gained wider recognition with her 2019 single “Try Me” before achieving global success through Wizkid’s “Essence.” She has since collaborated with artists including Drake, Beyoncé, Future, and Brent Faiyaz.

Read Also: Tems Launches South Africa Edition of Leading Vibe Initiative

Her success is not just tied to streaming numbers alone. She won several international awards. She has a Grammy in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category and also four BET Awards. Her talent has earned her praise from different artists including Rihanna.

Photo: Instagram

While several African musicians have received multi Platinum certifications in the United States, Diamond status remains rare. Tems becoming the first African woman to earn the certification.

The RIAA Diamond certification shows how African artists continue to break barriers. As Tem’s international profile grows, this latest milestone will inspire more female artists to aim for global success.

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Temi Otedola Says There’s No Reason to Deny Being a Nepo Baby.

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Photo: Instagram

Temi Otedola has joined the growing conversation around privilege and family connections, saying she sees no reason to deny being a “nepo baby.” The actress and media personality made the remarks during an episode of “The How Far Podcast“, which she co-hosts with her husband, Mr Eazi.

During the podcast, Temi said she is often surprised when people refuse to acknowledge the advantages they have enjoyed because of their background. In her view, admitting that someone started life with certain opportunities should not be seen as an attack on their achievements. Instead, she believes it is simply an honest acknowledgement of the advantages those opportunities provided.

Photo: Instagram

She also argued that privilege extends beyond having wealthy or well-known parents. According to her, growing up in a stable home, having access to quality education and not having to worry about basic needs are all forms of advantage that can shape a person’s path. For that reason, she said conversations about privilege should not be limited to celebrities or children of influential figures.

To make her point clearer, Temi used a personal example. She said that if she and Mr Eazi had a child who wanted to become a musician, and they introduced the child to a producer, paid for a music video and used their industry connections, the child would naturally have an advantage over someone trying to break into the business without that kind of support. Rather than deny it, she said she would openly accept that the child had benefited from family connections.

Photo: Instagram

Temi added that recognising those advantages does not mean dismissing hard work. She said she was given a leg up in life but still believes it is important to make the most of the opportunities available.

Mr Eazi shared a similar view during the discussion, saying he has also benefited from opportunities created by people who came before him. Their conversation explored how success is often influenced by factors that go beyond talent alone.

By openly identifying herself as a nepo baby, Temi Otedola said she believes acknowledging the advantages that came with her background is simply being honest about the different starting points people have in life.

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