Emerging music creatives and professionals in Nairobi will have the opportunity to learn directly from some of the region’s leading voices in music, culture and media through the Nairobi edition of Swift Academy.
Applications are now open for Swift Academy, the pan-African talent development platform created by Martell and curated by Africa House to support emerging music creatives and professionals through mentorship, practical development, industry access and collaboration.
At the centre of the Nairobi edition is a diverse network of mentors drawn from different areas of the music and creative industries.
The mentor lineup includes singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bensoul; music and culture executive Monica Kemoli; music publicist and curator Anyiko Owoko; singer, songwriter and producer Njerae; and multi-award-winning music journalist and cultural commentator Joey Akan.
Together, the mentors bring experience across songwriting, artist development, music strategy, communications, storytelling, journalism, cultural commentary and creative positioning.
For participants, the mentorship is designed to offer practical perspectives on what it takes to build, navigate and sustain a career within Africa’s evolving music ecosystem.
Bensoul – Singer, Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist
One of Kenya’s leading contemporary artists, Bensoul brings experience spanning songwriting, performance, collaboration and independent artist development.
His career offers participants a first-hand perspective on developing a distinctive creative identity while building a sustainable path within the music industry.
As a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Bensoul has built his reputation around his musical versatility and creative approach, making his experience particularly relevant to emerging artists looking to understand the realities of developing their sound and identity.
His mentorship will allow participants to explore the creative and professional considerations involved in building a career as an artist.
Monica Kemoli – Music and Culture Executive
Monica Kemoli is a Nairobi-based music and culture executive with experience across artist development, music strategy, creative partnerships and the growth of Africa’s music ecosystem.
Having worked with artists, managers and labels across roles at Spotify and Platoon, she brings practical insight into artist development, release strategy, music marketing, creative partnerships and building sustainable careers in music.
Her perspective adds an industry and strategic dimension to the Swift Academy mentor network, helping emerging creatives understand the structures and decisions that sit behind successful music careers.
From developing an artist’s strategy to navigating partnerships and releases, her experience provides participants with insight beyond the creative process itself.
Anyiko Owoko – Music Publicist and Curator
Anyiko Owoko, a communications strategist, publicist and music industry tastemaker, brings extensive experience across music, culture and entertainment.
Through her work in public relations, artist development, storytelling and industry positioning, Owoko will share practical insight into how emerging creatives and professionals can build their profiles, communicate their work and navigate an increasingly competitive industry.
For artists and other music professionals, developing great work is only one part of building a career. How that work is presented, communicated and positioned can also influence how audiences and industry stakeholders engage with it.
Owoko’s experience across communications and music makes her a key addition to the Academy’s multidisciplinary mentor network.
Njerae – Singer, Songwriter and Producer
Njerae represents a new generation of Kenyan artists building audiences both locally and internationally.
Known for her Afro-Indie sound and emotionally honest songwriting, she brings a contemporary artist perspective to the Academy.
Her experience offers participants an opportunity to explore creative development, audience connection and the journey from emerging talent to an increasingly global career.
As a singer, songwriter and producer, Njerae also represents the increasingly multidisciplinary nature of modern music careers, where artists can take on multiple roles in the creation and development of their work.
Her perspective is expected to resonate particularly with emerging creatives navigating the early stages of establishing their sound, identity and audience.
Joey Akan – Music Journalist and Cultural Commentator
Joey Akan is a multi-award-winning music journalist, cultural commentator and creator of Afrobeats Intelligence and The Joey Akan Experience.
His work sits at the intersection of music, media and culture, giving participants insight into storytelling, cultural positioning and the wider forces shaping how African music is documented, understood and experienced around the world.
Akan’s perspective will allow participants to consider their work beyond the music itself, including how artists and African music cultures are represented, discussed and positioned within a rapidly expanding global music landscape.
His experience in journalism and cultural commentary adds another dimension to the Academy’s mentorship programme.
Beyond Mentorship
Swift Academy has been designed to take participants beyond traditional mentorship by bringing them into direct contact with people who understand different realities of building careers across the music ecosystem.
A total of 25 participants will be selected for the Nairobi edition and will take part in practical learning, mentorship, industry access and collaboration.
Participants will also receive professional tools tailored to their development needs, access to a wider network of peers and collaborators, and a grant.
The programme is designed to give emerging creatives practical resources and industry connections that can support their continued development beyond the Academy experience.
Following the initial Swift Academy programme, participants will have access to a creative hub for an additional three weeks.
During this period, they will be able to continue developing their work, apply lessons from the Academy and collaborate with other participants.
The programme will ultimately culminate in a showcase celebrating their progress, providing an opportunity to highlight the work and development achieved throughout the experience.
Applications Now Open
The Nairobi edition of Swift Academy is open to emerging artists, producers, songwriters and music industry professionals based in Nairobi.
Applications are open and will close on August 28, 2026.
Participation in the programme is free, subject to the applicable Terms and Conditions.
Interested creatives can apply here: https://tally.so/r/VL74LE
For more information, visit https://www.martell.com/en/swift-academy-kenya/ and follow @martellofficial and @africahousemembersclub on Instagram for updates.
With mentors bringing expertise from across music, culture, communications, journalism and artist development, Swift Academy is positioning the Nairobi edition as an opportunity for emerging creatives to gain practical knowledge, develop their work and build connections within a wider African creative ecosystem.
