Jesse Mugambi, a Kenyan student in the UK, has received a $50,000 grant to construct a music studio and nightclub using decommissioned shipping containers.
The Kenyan student who is pursuing a master's degree in sustainable design at Brighton University has won an international award that supports nightlife initiatives.
He emerged as the winner after beating 300 contestants from 50 nations to be declared joint champion of Jagermeister's 'Save The Night' competition.
He will share the $109,000 (Ksh. 15 million) prize fund with a fellow winner from Northern Ireland, who will receive $50,000 (Ksh. 6.9 million).
Jesse's project, Studio Can-V, which he began as an undergraduate and is now pursuing as a master's degree at the University of Brighton, will create an adaptable venue that transitions from a studio for young DJs to a nightclub.
Local artisans in Nairobi, Kenya, where Jesse is from, will build the mobile recording studio out of reused shipping containers.
The containers will come from Mombasa Port, and the building will be constructed with renewable materials such as steel tubes for structural support.
Mugambi intends to develop a sense of pride and cultural identity through decommissioned shipping containers and local designs and emphasize the importance of sustainability and environmental consciousness in architectural design.
Mugambi, a budding DJ, stated: "Having faced challenges in pursuing my own passion for music when I was younger, I'm motivated by the belief that countless young and old people are longing for opportunities to scratch their musical itch."
“I aspire to create those spaces where they can explore their creativity and pursue their musical dreams without constraint.
“I aim to use this project to showcase contemporary Kenyan identities and promote inclusivity by foregrounding the voices of young DJs from various communities and backgrounds, who represent the future of an equal society.
