A Science Quiz Night: The Future of African Cities

In 28 years, African cities are projected to be home to 950 million people and by the end of this century, 2100, Africa is projected to be the only continent with a growing population. This is according to the Africa Development Bank. Against this backdrop of a rapidly urbanising space, it is crucial we understand how our cities are developing and whom they serve.

To answer these questions, we brought together two celebrities - Georgie Ndirangu and Just Ivy Africa to test their knowledge against an expert - data scientist and 2021 Mawazo Learning Exchange Fellow, Mutono Nyamai whose work focuses on combining applied epidemiological modelling and data analytics to develop prevention and control strategies for infectious diseases in Africa. Additionally, Mutono is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (CEMA) at the University of Nairobi where she studies the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases.  

In front of a live audience, we asked our celebrities questions about our home town - Nairobi, how African cities are tackling climate change and the built environment of cities on the continent.

Further Reading:

• This Is What Informal Transit Looks Like When You Actually Map It - Bloomberg
• Land use management challenges for the city of Nairobi
• About EDGE green building certification system
• Growing plants on buildings can reduce heat and produce healthy food in African cities
• Kenya Power to spend $331,000 in pilot transition to electric vehicles
• Kenya Power should rethink strategy on electric vehicles
• Cementing material from rice husk-broken bricks-spent bleaching earth-dried calcium carbide residue
• Kenyan recycles plastic waste into bricks stronger than concrete
• Development of banana fibers and wood bottom ash modified cement mortars
• The history of Akon City
• Akon to build new city in Senegal with own currency called AKoin
• The 3 trends shaping the future of Africa’s cities