Greetings, friends,
After five years, four months, two days, and nearly 120 editions of this newsletter, I’m writing to share that I’ll be stepping down as Baraza Media Lab’s Lead Curator at the end of April 2025.
Baraza began as a bold idea more than six years ago. I was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during my Nieman Fellowship when I got a call from Ory Okolloh. If you know Ory, you know that when she calls, you pick up. At the time, she was the Managing Director of Luminate, and she pitched me an idea that was simple, but expansive: What would it look like to create a space that supports independent media—not just the outputs, but the people, the process, the thinking, the spirit?
The 2018 Strengthening Kenyan Media report commissioned by Omidyar and in partnership with social innovation agency Reboot, laid the foundation. It highlighted the urgency of a strategic, ecosystem-wide investment in independent media and the need to forge stronger connections between journalists, storytellers, and civil society. I wrote the initial concept note for the media lab in mid-2018, and from this seed, Baraza Media Lab was launched in December 2019.
Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. If I had to name just three things that I carry with deep pride, they would be:
First, this very newsletter—Barua ya Baraza—which has held space for thoughtful, sometimes tender, always searching reflections on the trends, tensions, and quiet revolutions shaping media and storytelling. We’ve never missed a single edition in five years, and that consistency means more to me than I can say. Also, on many, many occasions, so many of you have walked up to me to appreciate the work that goes into this newsletter.
Second, the Africa Media Festival, which began as a wild, ambitious idea and has grown into a platform for convergence, debate, celebration, and the kind of intercontinental solidarity that our sector so desperately needs.
And third, the work that I’ve done as curator in modelling what Baraza is and what it is not—shaping not only a physical space, but a culture, a set of values, and a spirit of possibility. I’m proud of how we’ve lived into that spirit, even when it felt easier to conform, to play it safe, or to copy-paste what already exists. Of course, that’s still work in progress – living up to ideals always is. But you can’t navigate those tensions without a compass, and I’ve tried to be a compass.
I’m not fading away into the good night. I’ll be doing more of the actual work, the writing, the creating, the journalism, which now makes me part of the community that Baraza has served for the past five years. I’ll be cheering on the team as they carry the vision forward. But for now, thank you—for reading, for believing, for building with me.
In the meantime, here’s:
What I’m Reading: A Deadly Love Affair with a Chatbot. Sewell Setzer was a happy child – before he fell in love with a chatbot and took his own life at 14. His mother has now filed a lawsuit against the most powerful company in the world.
What I’m Watching: Tonight, I’m watching the season three finale of The White Lotus on HBO, which for most of the readers of this newsletter is available on Showmax. I loved the sharp writing of Seasons 1 & 2, and I’m still holding on to hope that tonight is when Season 3 all comes together.
What I’m Listening to: The Bad Natives Podcast, which you can listen to on Spotify or YouTube. Hosted by Robert Kabushenga in Kampala, Charles Onyango-Obbo in Nairobi, Ferial Hafajjee in Johannesburg, and Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie in Lagos, this hour-long podcast is a commentary on some of the biggest African stories of the week, from some of the brightest minds in the business.
With love and deep gratitude,
Christine Mungai
Curator | Baraza Media Lab
Baraza Media Lab Opens New Creative & Media Hub in Kisumu
Baraza Media Lab’s journey in Kisumu began long before our new hub opened. It was shaped by research, ongoing engagement, and honest dialogue with the region’s creative and media community.
In 2022, our national research revealed Kisumu as a hub of potential, with creators eager to grow despite challenges like limited resources, infrastructure gaps, and few local opportunities. We returned several times, meeting creatives in galleries, studios, and informal spaces. The message was clear: there’s a need for access, collaboration, and stronger local support.
The Kisumu Hub is our response. A space for training, events, and community-building that supports creative and media excellence. To the Kisumu creatives who welcomed us: thank you. Let’s get to work.