Three Kenyans have made it into this year’s fifth milestone annual Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list.
The three are among 120 personalities across four sectors business, technology, creatives and sport.
The three Kenyans in the Creatives category are a filmmaker, a musician and fashion stylist.
Here are a few things you did not know about them.
1. Kevin Njue, 27, a producer, director, writer and CEO: Rocque Pictures
After gaining experience creating short films, he then decided it was time to make bigger ones, a full-length feature film. This ultimately led to him founding a business in 2016, Rocque Pictures.
With only enough money to register the business, he knocked on doors while pitching his first feature film, 18 Hours. Of the Sh4.5 million needed, he managed to raise Sh1.3 million from a university professor and an entrepreneur.
The film was finished and launched in November 2017. It sold out at a cinema premiere in Nairobi. In 2018, the film won the Best Overall Movie in Africa, Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, making history as the first Kenyan film to be nominated and win in the history of the awards.
2. Karun, 24, Musician
You might know Karun from the pop trio Kenyan group Camp Mulla who were nominated for a BET Award in the US in 2012. But this alternative R&B pop artiste is now taking on the world solo and is one of Kenya’s rising new wave artistes.
Born Karungari Mungai, she started her music career at 14 and went on to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the US. Since then, she has had the opportunity to perform at live festivals and shows across the globe such as the SXSW 2015 (Austin TX) as part of the collective Cosmic Homies.
In 2018 as reported by The Sauce, in May 2019, the mother of one released a new single titled ‘Glow Up’ courtesy of the emPawa artist mentorship programme launched last year by Nigerian superstar Mr Eazi.
3. Yaa Bonsu, 28, Fashion stylist and Creative
In 2017, Yaa Bonsu met international model Naomi Campbell who told her to believe in herself, and then signed a copy of her Vogue magazine. Bonsu took her advice and has been climbing the international ladder in fashion since.
Today, she spends her days with runway models, designers and in the thick of fashion shoots for some of those glossy magazines. In 2016, she relocated to Dubai where her career in the fashion industry took off. She has set her goals on becoming an internationally-renowned fashion powerhouse joining the leagues of icons Victoria Beckham, Edward Enninful and Vanessa Kingori.
Other Kenyans honoured in other categories include, Athlete Margaret Nyairera Wambui, Alpine skier Sabrina Simader, Athlete Faith Kipyegon, Athlete Emmanuel Korir, Athlete Beatrice Chepkoech in the Sports category. Dorcas Owinoh, Eric Muli, Diana Esther Wangari and Jacob Rugano in the Technology category. Sadaam Suleiman, David Kyalo, Shirlene Nafula and Kimani Adam in the Business category.
