Emerging Kenyan musicians and creative professionals have a new opportunity to access industry mentorship, professional tools and funding through the inaugural Swift Academy Kenya programme.
The pan-African talent development initiative, created by Martell and curated by Africa House, has opened applications for its first Nairobi cohort. The programme will select 25 emerging creatives for an intensive development experience focused on mentorship, practical skills, industry access and collaboration.
Swift Academy targets emerging artists, producers, songwriters and music industry professionals based in Nairobi. Applications and participation are free, with the application window closing on August 28, 2026.
The Nairobi edition marks the beginning of Swift Academy’s wider rollout across Africa. The initiative aims to support 100 emerging creatives during its first year, with Nairobi serving as its launch city before the programme expands to other African creative hubs.
Selected participants will receive direct access to established figures from Kenya’s music and creative industries.
The Nairobi mentor lineup includes singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bensoul, singer, songwriter and producer Njerae, filmmaker and creative director Michael Gachiri, music publicist and curator Anyiko Owoko, and music journalist and cultural commentator Joey Akan.
The programme will combine one-on-one mentorship, practical workshops, panel discussions and networking sessions. Rather than focusing solely on classroom-based learning, Swift Academy intends to give participants practical exposure to the realities of developing and sustaining careers in the creative industry.
Participants will also receive professional tools tailored to their individual development needs, a grant and access to a network of peers and collaborators across four markets.
The benefits extend beyond the core programme. Selected creatives will gain access to the Swift Academy Cultural Hub for an additional three weeks, giving them space to continue developing their projects, collaborate with other participants and put the skills gained during the programme into practice.
The academy will conclude with a showcase where participants will present their work and demonstrate their progress.
Martell and Africa House have positioned Kenya as the starting point for a programme designed to build stronger pathways for emerging African creative talent.
Nairobi has developed into one of East Africa’s key creative centres, producing artists, producers, filmmakers, writers and other professionals working across music, media, advertising and culture.
The launch also comes as Kenyan and African music continues to gain international attention. Swift Academy’s focus goes beyond discovering artists, instead targeting the wider ecosystem of people required to build sustainable creative careers.
In announcing the programme, its organisers said Swift Academy would help emerging creatives “strengthen their skills, access experienced mentors and build connections that can support their growth.”
Africa House co-founder Jade Kelly Wilson also described the initiative as an extension of the organisation’s work connecting African talent with global opportunities.
“Swift Academy reflects what Africa House was created to do: connect the talent that already exists across the continent with the ecosystems and opportunities that allow it to grow.”
Wilson said the programme would create pathways for emerging creatives to access established industry figures through mentorship and knowledge-sharing.
“We’re excited to create a platform where emerging creatives can learn, collaborate and build relationships that extend beyond their immediate market.”
The Nairobi programme is open to emerging artists, producers, songwriters and music industry professionals who are based in Nairobi.
Applicants must have an existing project, release or initiative that they are actively developing and want to receive support on during the programme.
While participation is free, applicants should note that the organisers will not cover travel, accommodation, meals or local transportation costs associated with attending the programme. Selected participants will therefore have to make and fund their own arrangements.
The programme is part of a larger continental plan. Swift Academy is scheduled to expand beyond Nairobi, with Accra also listed for 2026, followed by Johannesburg and Lagos in 2027.
For Kenya’s emerging creative community, the Nairobi cohort offers more than a short-term training opportunity. With access to working artists, industry professionals, funding, professional tools and a wider netwok, the programme is designed to help participants move from developing creative projects to building sustainable careers.
Applications for Swift Academy Kenya close on August 28, 2026
