Apply for OneBeat Kenya Artist Residency Program

Ten artists from East Africa and two artists from the United States, spanning genres and musical communities, will unite to explore new musical horizons and sharpen their professional and entrepreneurial skills.

OneBeat Kenya will immerse participants in a thriving music scene, rich in culture and energy. This residency offers an intensive program full of creative workshops, discussions, and hands-on exercises, along with master classes, music recording sessions, and filmmaking projects. OneBeat Kenya Fellows will also take part in meaningful engagements with the local community, forging lasting connections. OneBeat Kenya is more than just a residency; it’s an exhilarating journey of collaboration and creativity, set to ignite new possibilities and inspire future collaborations across continents.

Benefits

• The OneBeat program covers all Fellows’ travel, transportation, food, and lodging. They also offer a modest stipend. While they are not able to pay performance fees, OneBeat offers Fellows a chance to create new material, establish lifelong musical partnerships and friendships, learn new marketable skills, tour the US, and develop professional connections.

Duration

• The program will run from August 20th to September 8th, 2025.

Eligible Countries

• Kenya and United States

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be 19 or older by the time of the program and 35 or younger at the end of the program.
• Musicians from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, with or without formal musical training. They welcome music of all genres, including but not limited to: traditional/folk, hip hop, experimental, electronic, jazz, classical, sound design, beat-making, multimedia art, or any combination of these styles. In additional to full-time professional musicians, they also invite adventurous musicians who double as community organizers, instrument builders, writers, videographers, musicologists, educators, storytellers, dancers, shadow-puppeteers, and more.

Review Criteria

• Musical Excellence: A high level of performance, composition, improvisational, production and/or technological skill. Ideally OneBeat musicians will be innovating stylistically, lyrically, or technologically within their musical worlds.
• Collaboration: Applicants’ willingness to reach across cultural and musical divides in creating original music or re-interpreting traditional music, while respecting the essence of each tradition. Applicants should be prepared to try new things musically.
• Social Engagement: Musicians who have used music to serve their communities or greater societies. This might consist of guiding young people in music education, addressing social or political issues through musical content, reviving dying musical traditions, and more.
• Age: Applicants must be between 19-35 years old.
• English Proficiency: Applicants should be able to converse in and understand basic English, as it will be the common language of the OneBeat program.
• Country or Territory of Origin: OneBeat Fellows must currently live full-time in one of the 45 eligible countries and territories. They also seek applicants who have not traveled extensively to the U.S. or have rarely performed in the U.S.
• Internet Proficiency: Whenever possible, OneBeat Fellows should actively use email and be able to connect to the internet to participate in website-based activities.

Application Requirements

• Applicants should plan to write about their musical background and interests as well as future projects and goals.
• Applicants will be asked to submit 3-5 samples of their solo and collaborative work (both audio and video are accepted).

For more information, visit OneBeat.