Jepchumba – White Plains, New York

Jepchumba is a digital enthusiast who works hard to combine her two loves: Digital Media and Africa. Originally from Kenya, she has lived around the world developing her interest in philosophy, art and technology. Founder of African Digital Art Network, Jepchumba enjoys studying how technology has changed art and culture.

Jepchumba (photo courtesy jepbchumba.com)

With a Masters Degree in Digital Media, Jepchumba has formal training in Project Management and Digital Media Production. In many ways she considers herself as a mad scientist. Always looking for the next upcoming project.

She loves experimenting with motion, sound and various digital effects and techniques. The reason why she is so passionate about Digital Media is mainly due to the fact she has an entire laboratory at the touch of her fingertips.

Source: Afrodigi Studio

Julia Opoti – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Julia Opoti

Julia Opoti is the co-founder and publisher of KenyaImagine, a website founded to address shortcomings in the standards and content of the Kenyan media, especially its newspapers and magazines. Originally intended as a political, economics, science and business magazine, KenyaImagine expanded itself outside of these major spheres and provide a platform for creative writing, poetry and cultural reviews.

KenyaImagine has grown to 1000 writers strong and is already making a great impact in media. She served as the editor and writer of the TRIO Tribune, the newsletter for the TRIO/Student Support Services (SSS) organization at Metropolitan State University, and volunteered for Books for Africa.  As a student she won awards for her efforts on issues such as textbook pricing, tuition affordability, and diversity on campus.

She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Mshale, and is passionate about making a difference in media and empowering others to do so.  She is a Fellow at the Knight Digital Media Center.

Laban Opande – Houston, Texas

Laban Opande graduated Cum Laude from Texas Southern University’s School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in 2001. He was also president of the Environmental Health Club at TSU from 2000- 2001. In fall of 2002, he enrolled for an MBA program at the University of Phoenix, majoring in Global Management.

Laban Opande

In 2007, he graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University with a Juris Doctor degree. At Thurgood Marshall, he was Chief Justice of the Honor Court, Vice President of the International and Immigration Law Society, a Member of the Environmental Law Society, and Member of the Dean’s Diversity Committee. He was also an active participant of the law school’s Client Counseling, Moot Court, and Mock Trial Competitions.

As a law student, he interned for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) General Law Division dealing with Labor, Employment and Contracts Law, and TMSL’s Criminal and Environmental Law Clinics. Prior to his admission to law school, he worked for several years as an IT Technical Analyst for American International Group (AIG) in Houston, as well as a Product Support Consultant for PlanView Inc, a software company based in Austin, Texas.

Mr. Opande is the President and Co-founder of The Kenyan Society in Houston (KENSHO). He is a member of the National Environmental Health Association, and Houston-based Uhuru Soccer Club. He attends Fondren Southwest Worship Center. At the Law Firm of Solomon M. Musyimi, Mr. Opande assists in legal representation in areas of Corporate Law, Business and Contract Law, Property and Real Estate Law, Immigration and Employment Law, Personal Injury and Criminal law.

Source:  Law Offices of Solomon M. Musyimi

Rhoda Matiru – Houston, Texas

Rhoda Matiru graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University with Magnum Cum Laude honors in 2006. Ms. Matiru received the Cali Award for Best in Section for Contracts and Civil Procedure.

Rhoda Matiru

In 2001, she graduated with a Masters of Business Administration from the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University. Ms. Matiru has Bachelors of Science in Zoology and Business Administration from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton in Kenya.

While in Law School, Ms. Matiru worked for the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy Earl Carl. While there she dealt with issues pertaining to Family law. She also worked at the University’s Health Center, International Students Affairs office and the Counseling Center where she coordinated activities pertaining to the International Students. At the Law Firm of Solomon M. Musyimi, Ms. Matiru assists in legal representation of clients in Immigration, Family, Corporate, Personal Injury and Criminal law.

Source:  Law Offices of Solomon M. Musyimi

Solomon Musyimi – Houston, Texas

Solomon Musyimi is a lawyer with his own practice in Houston, Texas.He graduated from the Benjamin Banneker Honors Program at Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with Cum Laude Honors in 1991. In 1994, he graduated with a Master of Science in Management from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In 2001, he graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law located at Texas Southern University.

SOLOMON MUSYIMI (Photo: Solomon Musyimi website)

While in Law School, Mr. Musyimi did a Judicial Externship with Honorable Judge Kenneth Hoyt of the United States Southern District Court. Solomon Musyimi has been admitted to Practice Law in all State Courts in Texas, as well as the United States Southern, Northern and Western Districts. Prior to entering into the practice of Law, he worked as a Financial Analyst for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn Michigan. After leaving Ford, he worked for Bristol Myers Corporation as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Zimmer Division located in Warsaw, Indiaina.

Mr. Musyimi represents clients in Corporate, Personal Injury, Criminal, Immigration and Family law. He founded the firm in 2001 and is a shareholder. Since establishing the firm, the Law Firm of Solomon M. Musyimi has handled a wide array of cases that has resulted in numerous favorable settlements. Solomon Musyimi is married with two children. He attends Lakewood Church and is a member of the African Christian Medical Mission group. Through this Organization, Solomon Musyimi has done volunteer work in Kenya, Jamaica and Rwanda. An avid runner, Solomon Musyimi participates in the Susan Komen’s Race for the cure of Breast Cancer. Solomon Musyimi is the Vice President of the Africa Bar Association in America, Member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Port of Houston Small Business Division and a Member of the Houston Minority Council.

Source:  Law Offices of Solomon M. Musyimi

Wangechi Mutu – New York, New York

Wangechi Mutu is a phenomenal artist who is pushing boundaries, raising awareness and making a statement with her art.  Her ability to take any medium and make it into something that people will look at in awe has brought her great accolades from some of the harshest art critics in the world.

Wangechi Mutu

Her work has been seen in the Saachi Gallery, the Susanne Vielmetter Gallery in Los Angeles, California, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Miami Art Museum, Tate Modern in London, the Studio Museum in Harlem in New York, Kunstpalast Dusseldorf in Germany, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Her art is shattering stereotypes about African art and African artists.

You can learn more about this phenomenal woman here.