Media Career Development Specialist, Lekan Otufodunrin profiles the Lead Curator, Bazara Media Lab, Kenya, Christine Mungai, who is an accomplished journalist, writer, and curator.
The first time I listened to Christine Mungai speak in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2016 at the inaugural Bloomberg Africa Media Fellowship, I was very impressed by her brilliance and articulation of the media and economic issues in Africa we discussed at the programme.
I remember meeting her at the end of the session to commend her and mention that one day, I look forward to her becoming one of the African voices at international gatherings on issues we need to address.
Since then, I have closely followed her career trajectory, which has been marked by numerous accomplishments that distinguish her as a quintessential and innovative journalist and media professional. She remains committed to enhancing media practice not only in her home country, Kenya but also across the continent and the world.
Last week, Mungai as Lead Curator of the Bazara Media Lab, Nairobi, a co-creation space for public interest storytelling, hosted the 3rd edition of the Africa Media festival that attracted media professionals, storytellers, and industry leaders on the theme: “Bridging Gaps, Connecting Media Futures.”
“This is my third time curating the program for this event, and every time I do this I am so blown away by the richness of the sessions pitched the diversity of experiences, and the generosity of spirit that Africa Media Festival always aims to embody — and the speakers who are leading the sessions do capture that spirit,” Mungai stated in a LinkedIn post ahead of the programme and it indeed turned out to be an engaging, insightful experience for the participants.
Executive Director of LightRay Media, Nigeria, Ejiro Umukoro who attended the Festival aptly describes Mungai as phenomenal. “I love her passion, focus, commitment, and boldness to take on topics and projects that many would otherwise shy away from. Her drive for the Baraza Media Lab is the kind of push and platform media and journalism need.”
Though her first degree is in Biomedical Science and Technology from Egerton University in Kenya and started her media career in 2009 as a Production Assistant at Africa Challenge Production, Mungai has become well-known globally as a versatile writer, journalist, and curator.
In 2010, she joined The EastAfrican Newspaper as a reporter and moved on to the Mail & Guardian Africa in 2014 as a Senior Reporter, where she specialised in analytical, data-driven stories.
A 2016 Bloomberg Africa Media Fellow and 2018 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University whose work has been featured in international publications including The Africa Report, Adi Magazine, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Harvard Public Health Magazine, The New Internationalist, The Elephant, Washington Post, The Boston Globe, CNN, Al Jazeera English and others, is also a part-time media trainer with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Explaining what is involved in curating a programme like the Africa Media Festival, Mungai said “it’s an exercise in thinking. Thinking deeply about what’s happening in the media ecosystem, who’s doing the work, and what they need to be seen, heard, and supported. It’s an exercise in visualising the bigger picture while paying attention to the details. In short, a million moving pieces – all of which are important.”
Instead of relying on international media organisations to tell African stories, Mungai said at the opening of the 2nd edition of the festival that there is an urgent need to create our oasis where new possibilities can emerge despite feeling we are in a political or moral desert.
“International organizations can’t tell you what’s happening in your backyard. That’s where local journalism is key. Local journalism is key to media freedom. Ad revenue is used to control media, but solutions exist. We must build a resilient ecosystem, try different models, and respond to our audience.”
Describing her writing which has covered a cross-section of fields, including politics, culture, business, and the arts as long-form essay that attempts to make meaning out of societal trends in an interview, Mungai said her target audience is always “someone living in Africa who wonders ‘why?’ when they look at what’s going on in their society.”
“I’m always trying to understand what’s going on – to dig back into history, to look at data, to observe and record trends, to connect the dots, and even propose theories that might explain it. My propositions are not always right, of course. But I love thinking through things.”
The most important lesson she has learned from her writing is to write even when you don’t feel like writing.
What drives the amazing lady who is passionate about fighting for social justice and finding joy in the struggle? “That light bulb ‘aha’ moment is everything – when you suddenly see something you’ve observed all your life in a new light.”
“Watching from a distance and closely through our virtual conversation, I can say that she is a smart and intelligent professional who knows how to get things done. As the curator of the Africa Media Festival, she did a great job in creating a remarkable event for media professionals and creatives to rethink, reflect, and rejig their work” said Founding Editor of FactsMatterNG, Hannah Ajakaiye.
Former Executive Director, ALI Media Fellowship Programme, Fiona Musana Marwa is glad to see the progress Mungai has made in her career since the Bloomberg Fellowship and her unique approach to storytelling.
“Her innovative approach to storytelling, particularly her integration of qualitative techniques, technology, and African narrative traditions, has created something truly remarkable in media today. Her approach reminds us that quality storytelling can help transform how we approach leadership and change in Africa.”
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