A University of Brighton student has won KES 7.6 million (€50,000) in an international competition to build an innovative music studio and nightclub made from repurposed shipping containers in Kenya.
Jesse Mugambi, 22, was named one of two winners of Jägermeister’s #SaveTheNight competition, which supports inclusive nightlife projects worldwide. His ‘Studio Can-V’ concept beat over 300 submissions from 50 countries to claim half of the €100,000 prize fund.
Mugambi, who studies Sustainable Design at Brighton after graduating with a BA in Architecture, plans to create a versatile Nairobi venue that transitions from a daytime music hub for young DJs to a club at night.
“Having faced challenges in pursuing my own passion for music when I was younger, I’m driven by the belief that there are countless young and old people longing for opportunities to explore their musical itch,” said Mugambi, an aspiring DJ himself.
“My aim is to use this project to showcase contemporary Kenyan identities. Studio Can-V promotes inclusivity by foregrounding the voices of young DJs from various communities and backgrounds, who represent the future of an equal society.”
The mobile sound studio will be constructed by local artisans using vernacular designs that celebrate youth cultural identities. Mugambi hopes it will drive positive change through music, dance and connection while providing a platform for artists to break into new markets across Africa.
“It’s been an interesting process, merging my passions for architecture, sustainable design, and music into one vision,” he said. “Throughout that time, I’ve received massive support from friends, mentors, and lecturers at the University of Brighton who’ve helped shape the project’s trajectory.”
