SEMA
DJ101
Nairobi
DJ101 is for those who want to break into DJing, learning both the creative and technical skills required to mix and perform incredible live sets.
APPLICATIONS OPEN
KUJISAJILI KUMEFUNGULIWA
DJ101 NAIROBI - DATES & LOCATION
Friday, May 23rd, 2025 to Friday, June 20th, 2025
Ijumaa, Mei 23, 2025 hadi Ijumaa, Juni 20, 2025
2 pm - 5 pm
(excluding public holidays; classes re-scheduled accordingly)
Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays
(SEMA certification is based on attendance and punctuality)
The Mall (Basement Level),
Ring Road Parklands, Westlands, Nairobi County, Kenya
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BEGINNER MUSIC PRODUCTION (BMP)
Nairobi
APPLICATIONS OPEN
KUJISAJILI KUMEFUNGULIWA
The BMP course offers foundational skills in music production, from the basics of theory and sound design, to composition and arrangement, in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
BMP NAIROBI - DATES & LOCATION
Friday, May 23rd, 2025 to Friday, June 20th, 2025
Ijumaa, Mei 23, 2025 hadi Ijumaa, Juni 20, 2025
10 am - 1 pm
Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
(excluding public holidays; classes re-scheduled accordingly)
(SEMA certtification is based on attendance and punctuality)
The Mall (Basement Level),
Ring Road Parklands, Westlands, Nairobi County, Kenya
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SEMA encourages originality in answering and completing your application,
accomodations will be made for anyone unable to complete the process via the application link.
Get in contact via;
admissions@santuri.org
SEMA’s DJ101 & BMP Nairobi courses are sponsored by Sanara.
SEMA in Sanara
SEMA is dedicated to the upskilling of music practitioners, ensuring they can build vibrant, self-sustained livelihoods. With a commitment to intersectional inclusion, SEMA seeks to
create opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that students have
access to the resources and support they need.
By employing a learning-by-doing pedagogical approach, SEMA will play a crucial role in the Sanara program skilling for work, while fostering empowered and skilled audio technicians across the region.
About Sanara
exciting, inclusive program designed for young women and men in Kenya’s creative and
cultural industries aims to enable access to dignified and fulfilling work.
In partnership with Mastercard Foundation, the consortium of
HEVA, SNDBX, Baraza Media Lab and GoDown Arts Center,
have launched this 3-year program to offer opportunities for financing,
skilling programs and infrastructure, and the adoption of
sustainable practices that advance safer working environments.
For more information visit:
hevafund.com/sanara
SEMA WORKSHOPS & MASTERCLASSES
Santuri has run over 15 separate workshops for music practitioners from our studio spaces since the beginning of 2021. With the addition of the Santuri Salon at The Mall in Westlands, Nairobi, we have been able to run even more niche trainings at a greater capacity.
These workshops have ranged from Ableton and Maschine basics, to live recording, electronic jam sessions,
live looping performances, and more hardware experimentation over at the Santuri space.
Our masterclasses and workshops are arranged and facilitated by Santuri staff, in addition to external industry experts, leading to further interactions self-organized by our community of artists.
CURRENT OFFERINGS
Hybrid DJ
FL Studio
Ally Fresh & DJ Mura Masterclass
Live Performance
SEMA COURSES
Below is a list of SEMA’s course offerings that run throughout the year.
E-mail admissions@santuri.org or subscribe to Santuri’s monthly newsletter for information on upcoming schedules and course dates.
SEMA COURSES
DJ101
Beginner Music Production [BMP]
Prod-DJ
Intermediate Music Production [IMP]
Advanced Music Production [AMP]
Train the Trainer [TTT]
ADDITIONAL LEARNINGS
- Critically evaluating your work using Project Based Learning
- Understanding the possibilities in production with Santuri’s unlimited access to gear
- Exploring the cultural and historical context of East-African and global electronic music
- Developing a professional and respectful process in navigating the electronic music scene
- An understanding of social sensitivities across the music industry
SEMA’s Approach
We believe that the best way to learn is by getting directly into the music production and deejaying process. You will have endless opportunities to immerse yourself in the magic of creating music and deejaying - SEMA will give you the tools, guidance and space to chart your own path to success. SEMA offers access to cutting-edge software and hardware from our global music technology partners including Ableton, Native Instruments, Shure, Elektron, ADAM Audio, and more. As a SEMA student, you will also have access to your own iMac workstation for the entirety of the course.
SEMA’s tutors are all artists in their own right, and are active in the East-African and global music landscape. We understand what you want to get out of the courses. SEMA utilizes Project Based Learning, an approach which inspires as much as it frees you from the traditional classroom environment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(FAQs)
When does the next course start?
- Our next offerings will be communicated via our social media platforms and newsletter.
- Follow us on socials and sign up to our newsletter to stay updated.
REQUIREMENTS
Do I need to be a musician or have any musical experience?
- It depends on your course of study. For example, no previous musical experience is required for SEMA’s BMP and DJ101 courses but is necessary for TTT.
Do I need a laptop?
- Having access to your own personal laptop that you can bring to class is preferable. Nonetheless, SEMA’s wide equipment inventory also has computers that students can use.
What software do I need?
- SEMA’s production courses are primarily administered on Ableton. That being said, a variety of Digital Audio Workstations [DAWs] such as Bitwig and FL Studio also feature across modules within the programs.
- DJ101 is facilitated using Traktor. Industry equivalence through the coverage of Serato and CDJs also equip students with what they need to launch a career.
Once I apply, how long will it take to get accepted?
- The SEMA Admissions Team will contact you within 2 weeks of receiving and reviewing your application.
GENERAL
What courses do you offer?
- SEMA offers music production courses at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. We also offer DJ courses at the beginner level, with intermediate and advanced levels to come.
- All SEMA curricula are expansive and in-depth, tackling the technical fundamentals, the aesthetic elements of electronic music culture, music business, wellness & wellbeing, and lots more!
How do I apply for a SEMA course?
- By filling in the SEMA Application Form for the course you wish to study.
- Depending on the course level, you will need to share some information about your interest and experience in music production or deejaying, demonstrate that you share Santuri’s core values, and are able to settle your full tuition fee.
- We also run a SEMA Scholars program, for outstanding applicants with limited resources. Some SEMA courses are fully scholarship-sponsored. Stay tuned to www.santuri.org/courses for more details.
What will I receive after completing my course of study?
- You will receive a SEMA certificate. Santuri’s reputation is global, having strong partnerships with key music technology players globally, and a network of festivals, labels, music platforms, and further education establishments.
- Students who successfully complete their respective course can have the opportunity to join the lively SEMA Alums program.
- This grants you access to studio time, gear hire, showcase opportunities, and continued support and guidance in your music career.
After attending SEMA, what can I do with the skills I have learned?
- Previous SEMA Alums have gone on to a variety of careers and opportunities. Ranging from producing professionally, signing to labels, regional and international tours, working in studios, teaching music production and deejaying, and beyond. Follow our socials for more of what our SEMA Alums are up to!
Are Santuri and SEMA the same thing?
- The Santuri Electronic Music Academy (SEMA) is the educational stem of Santuri East Africa. Santuri is a music innovation hub that offers studio services, gear hire, events, curation, research, consultancies, community building, on top of music production and DJ courses at SEMA.
What’s so special about SEMA, anyway?
- SEMA is designed and implemented by artists, producers, and DJs who have a deep connection to alternative and innovative music, and a strong sense of community purpose. We adopt a progressive pedagogy based on Project Based Learning, so students are always hands-on with their own studies - this is not a traditional classroom.
- Each student is challenged to surpass their own expectations, and encouraged to develop critical thinking about the work they produce and the industry they wish to be a part of. Santuri also intentionally addresses the gender imbalance in the music scene and highly encourages diverse applications showcasing the vibrance of East African music culture.
Some direct questions we’ve received:
If a student is not able to clear the fees before orientation, are there flexible payment plans offered?
- It is mandatory that applicants settle their enrollment fee in order to be onboarded onto their desired course. However, we are a reasonable team, and if there are urgent or extenuating circumstances, we can look into flexible payment options.
(note: this may incur an additional fee and remains within SEMA’s discretion)
Some SEMA programs are courses that you have to pay for, while others are “free.” What is the difference?
- SEMA is the leading electronic music academy in East Africa. We previously were offering students stipends to attend, though transitioned into a paid course model and are now offering courses at fees that are affordable for our community. As such, our market friendly fee is already a perk compared to regional and global institutions.
Are there work placements or applied work experience that you receive with the course, or is it purely educational without industry engagement?
- There are many industry interactions through our extra-curricular and Santuri/ SEMA-wide activities, events, and programs. These include opportunities to showcase your work via our networks, perform at local venues, interact with international communities and platforms such as CDR, Oroko Radio, Currents FM, Beneath the Baobabs, Kilele Summit, and more.
- For DJs, we have offered opportunities at pristine locations like Jenga Jungle, Unseen, The Mist, Shelter KE and Beneath the Baobabs festival. Our music production graduates have performed on international stages like Suoni Per Il Popolo, Nyege Nyege, CTM Festival, Sonar Festival and top local venues. SEMA also offers niche opportunities such as live film scoring, soundtracking, and artist residencies.
If someone may have a day job or a full-time job, are there sessions that could be set up for them to learn either part-time, evening or on weekends?
- SEMA is currently in the process of formulating alternatives suitable for working students that will be communicated through our socials and newsletter once designed.
How can I get in touch with your admissions team?
- The best place to begin is by filling out the application form for your respective course at SEMA.
- If you need to get in touch with the SEMA Admissions Team, email us at admissions@santuri.org and we will try to answer any questions you have.
The final decision to grant admission to any applicant lies solely with the
Santuri Electronic Music Academy.
SEMA reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant based on its own criteria and discretion.