Rachel Muigai, Cape Town, South Africa

Rachel Muigai

Rachel Muigai, civil engineering researcher at UCT’s Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment (EBE) is the recipient of a R300 000 scholarship from the Cement and Concrete Institute.

The institute’s Sustainable Concrete Research Fellowship for 2008 was awarded to Muigai for her PhD proposal on research into the contribution of recycled materials on the environmental performance of concrete.

Muigai explains that concrete rubble from demolitions can be used as the aggregate in new concrete mixtures. Concrete consists of combinations of cement, aggregates (coarse and fine) and water.

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Muigai graduated from the University of Nairobi’s Department of Civil Engineering before coming to UCT for its programmes on concrete durability. She earned her master’s with her thesis, titled Probabilistic Modelling for Durability Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures in 2008.

“This fellowship will definitely assist me in achieving my career goals,” says Muigai. “When I’ve completed my PhD I’d like to use my experience in concrete sustainability in a research institution.”

The fellowship, awarded to Muigai to celebrate 70 years of operation in South Africa, is the third to be awarded by the institute. The first was for an investigation of shrinking aggregates in the 1960s, and the other for research into durability in 1989. Both Fellowships resulted in the generation of substantial new knowledge and helped solve practical problems in the concrete industry by producing high-level solutions.

- Author: Chris McEvoy

Source: University of Cape Town

Peres Owino, Los Angeles, California

Peres Owino is an Assistant to the Executive Vice President of  Creative Advertising at Paramount Pictures.  She has written a play called Beauty From Ashes which is scheduled to be part of the Black Medley Film Series on April 25,2009 at Stage 52 in Los Angeles, California.

Beauty for Ashes Flyer

The story is about a Kenyan woman who takes a journey to herself–a witty and honest look at how the ghosts of our past terrorize us and how that little voice in our head may be our only source of refuge.

Be warned that there is brief nudity so you might not want to take the kids.

Owino has a long resume filled with several productions that she has either directed or acted in.  Her dedication to her art is making her a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles theater scene.

STL a.k.a. Stella Mwangi, Oslo, Norway

Stella Mwangi aka STL is a Kenyan-born, Public Enemy and Queen Latifah inspired hardcore hustler female MC, who has shared stages with the likes of Talib Kweli, Common, Slick Rick, Dead Prez, Public Enemy and the legendary Angelique Kidjo.

This young lady has also worked with African artists such Senegalese hip-hop group, Wagable, Mishelle, Abbas Kubaff, and Ousman.

A  prolific musician, she is making great inroads into music.  Read about her on her website and learn more about her career here.