Swift Academy

Ben Soul

Singer-songwriter

Bensoul is a Kenyan singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends African soul, Afropop and R&B with deeply personal storytelling. Rising to prominence through Sol Generation, he has built a distinctive career exploring themes of love, vulnerability, freedom and modern African life. His songwriting credits include “Time Flies” by Sauti Sol and Burna Boy, featured on Burna Boy's Grammy-winning album Twice As Tall (2020). Recognized with a Pulse Music & Video Award in 2021, alongside AFRIMA and South African Music Award nominations, Bensoul continues to expand his influence through Sudah Nation, a growing creative community connecting fans across Africa and beyond.

Njerae

Artist

Njerae is a Kenyan singer, songwriter and producer whose Afro-Indie sound combines R&B, soul and contemporary African influences. Widely celebrated for her honest songwriting and emotionally resonant music, she has become one of the most exciting voices of Kenya's new generation. Her debut album, Unintentional (2022), has accumulated more than 20 million streams, while breakout hit “Aki Sioni” surpassed 11 million streams. Following the releases of Out With The Old (2024) and Four Letter Word (Deluxe) (2025), she became Spotify's most-streamed Kenyan female artist in 2025. Recognized by Apple Music's Africa Rising, Spotify EQUAL and YouTube Foundry, she further expanded her reach with a sold-out Australian tour in 2026.

Michael Gachiri

Director

Michael Gachiri is a Kenyan filmmaker, director, cinematographer and creative storyteller whose work spans music videos, documentaries and commercial campaigns. He has collaborated with some of East Africa's leading artists, including Bien, Nikita Kering', Khaligraph Jones and Watendawili, while also creating campaigns for brands such as Red Bull Kenya, EABL, OPPO and Infinix. His documentary work has taken him across Kenya, capturing the country's people, landscapes and cultures through a cinematic lens. Known for his strong visual identity and authentic storytelling, Michael creates work that is both emotionally engaging and visually distinctive.

Anyiko Owoko

Music publicist

Anyiko Owoko is one of Africa's leading music publicists, curators and cultural strategists, with more than a decade of experience shaping conversations around music and creativity on the continent. In 2018, she founded Anyiko PR, a pioneering agency that has worked with artists, festivals, cultural institutions and global brands including Netflix, Sony Music, Universal Music, SoundCloud and the British Council. Previously, she played a pivotal role in the growth of Sauti Sol and served as Entertainment & Music Publicist for Coke Studio Africa. Beyond PR, she is a respected curator, producer and host of the VIP ACCESS podcast. In 2026, she was selected as a fellow of the American Music Mentorship Program, recognizing her contribution to Africa's music ecosystem.

Joey Akan

Music journalist

Joey Akan is an award-winning Nigerian music journalist, cultural commentator and media consultant whose work has helped document and shape the global understanding of African music. He is the founder of Afrobeats Intelligence, one of the leading platforms exploring the business, culture and evolution of Afrobeats and African music, with more than one million downloads worldwide. His reporting and commentary have appeared in major international publications including The New York Times, CNN, The Guardian and The FADER. A Recording Academy voting member, Joey continues to connect artists, industry leaders and global audiences through insightful storytelling, cultural analysis and strategic industry partnerships.