Martell Swift Academy Nairobi Ends With a Showcase That Proved the Programme Was Worth Every Week

Four weeks ago, 25 emerging music creatives and professionals walked into Martell Swift Academy Nairobi not entirely sure what to expect. 

On 10 October 2026, they walked out of a closing showcase having built new skills, new relationships and a clearer sense of what their careers could look like. That arc, from uncertainty to demonstrated growth, is precisely what the programme was designed to create.

The inaugural Nairobi edition of Swift Academy, created by Martell and curated by Africa House, concluded with an evening of live performances, collaborative presentations and moments that reflected the work developed across the full four-week journey. Participants, mentors and figures from Nairobi’s music and creative industries came together for a showcase that felt less like a formal graduation and more like a genuine celebration of what the cohort had built together.

What the Four Weeks Actually Looked Like

Swift Academy was never conceived as a passive learning experience. Over the course of the programme, the 25 participants took part in masterclasses, breakout mentorship sessions, studio sessions, workshops and networking opportunities, alongside creative collaborations that pushed them to apply new knowledge in real settings rather than theoretical ones.

The mentor lineup was one of the programme’s strongest assets. Bensoul, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, brought the perspective of an artist who has navigated the industry with both creative integrity and commercial awareness. Anyiko Owoko, one of East Africa’s most respected music publicists and curators, offered insight into how artists build presence and narrative. Njerae, singer, songwriter and producer, added the voice of an independent creative who has built her own path on her own terms. Joey Akan, music journalist and cultural commentator, sharpened participants’ understanding of how music intersects with media and culture at a continental level. Monica Kemoli, music and culture executive, rounded out the group with an industry leadership perspective that gave participants a clearer view of how the broader ecosystem operates.

Together, they guided a cohort that came from different corners of the music world, with different ambitions and areas of expertise, and the mix was deliberate.

What the Programme Created Beyond the Classroom

Jade Kelly Wilson, Co-founder of Africa House, captured the cohort’s journey with clarity. 

“They came into the programme from different parts of the music ecosystem, with different ambitions and areas of expertise, and over the four weeks we have seen them learn from one another and challenge themselves. The showcase gave the participants the opportunity to demonstrate their individual growth and what they were able to create together.”

Africa House, the global platform connecting Africa’s most exciting talent, creatives and cultural leaders with opportunities shaping culture around the world, brought its curatorial intelligence and industry network to the programme from the start. Built at the intersection of culture, creativity and business, Africa House creates spaces for meaningful connection and collaboration across music, fashion, media, art and beyond. Its role in Swift Academy went beyond logistics. It shaped the environment in which the 25 participants could take real creative and professional risks.

For Martell, the Nairobi edition was an important first chapter in a wider continental ambition. Lanre Odutola, Head of Culture and Partnerships at Martell, reflected on what the programme delivered: 

“Over the past four weeks, we have seen this cohort build confidence, strengthen their skills and develop meaningful connections with mentors and with one another. The significance of the programme goes beyond what happened in the room during these few weeks. It is about creating access that can have a lasting impact on how emerging creatives and professionals navigate their careers and contribute to the wider music ecosystem.”

That framing matters. Maison Martell, the oldest of the great cognac houses, founded by Jean Martell in 1715 and defined across nine generations by craft, audacity and a refusal to follow convention, has long been symbolised by its historic emblem: the swift. Swift Academy carries that same spirit into Africa’s creative economy, backing emerging talent with the kind of structured, meaningful support that actually moves careers forward.

The Programme Does Not End at the Showcase

The closing event marked the end of the in-person Nairobi programme, but not the end of support for the 25 participants. Ongoing virtual check-ins and mentorship will continue, helping the cohort build on the progress made and sustain the relationships developed throughout the four weeks. That continuity of support is part of what distinguishes Swift Academy from a one-off workshop experience.

The Nairobi edition also signals something larger. Swift Academy’s pan-African rollout is underway, with the next edition set to take place in Accra. From Nairobi to Accra, the platform is building a network of emerging music talent across the continent’s key creative markets, one cohort at a time.

For more information, visit @martellofficial and @africahousemembersclub.