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Balmoi Abe
Founder @ Mambo Heritage | Building Sustainable Futures
Balmoi Abe is a seasoned Pan African Award Winning Architect with 17 years of experience, specializing in social heritage architecture, user experience, and creative leadership consulting. He is the Founder and Cultural Impact Director of Mambo Heritage, focusing on celebrating Africa's uniqueness and designing innovative low-income solutions for urban and rural settlements.
Balmoi's notable achievements include a celebrated Afro-Urban Project showcased at Habitat 3 and a dedication to creating sanctuaries of human balance by integrating culture, people, and ecosystems into his designs. He is passionate about historic preservation, urban development, cultural-centered design, vernacular architecture, and agro-tech.
With a background in Operations Management and a Master's Degree in Architecture, Balmoi has a strong educational foundation from the University of Cape Town and Savannah College of Art and Design. Throughout his career, he has held key roles in various organizations such as Mambo Heritage, The Book Bunk, and Safe Hands Kenya, showcasing his expertise in product innovation, community organizing, and designing toolkits.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Balmoi is an avid explorer who enjoys mountain biking, farming, and experimenting with clay works. His diverse experiences as an architect, cultural impact director, and founder reflect a multifaceted individual committed to driving positive change and sustainable development in African communities.
Highlights
I am sharing an article that questions the motive and the discourse of the residents and traders in Ngara, a neighbourhood in Nairobi, tracing back to its founding settlement as early as the 1920s.
Ngara's street traders represent post-colonial resistance, asserting their agency against the homogenizing forces of state-led development.
#communitydevelopment #gentrification #acent #ecologicalstewards #trade
On the eve of the new month of June, we look fondly to celebrating Kenya's Madaraka Day, 60 years on from self-rule & Independence. Self-rule from the British was documented on June 1st 1963, not to be confused with Jamhuri, our Independence Day (December 12th 1963).
In order for us, in Africa, to achieve a sustainable urban future it will require a holistic approach that integrates collaborative urban planning, sustainable infrastructure, affordable housing, circular economy practices, sustainable mobility, green spaces, digital innovation, social inclusion, climate resilience, and knowledge sharing. By considering these aspects, cities can create livable, resilient, and environmentally friendly urban environments for present and future generations.
Upon a visit to Kigali, to celebrate the collective gathering of sports enthusiasts for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Final, Africa Soft Power Summit. I was invited to visit the historical downtown site of the former Belgian School built in 1965. Shy of 60 years, the City of Kigali alongside the Norrsken Foundation & MASS Design Group has built a product that aligns and speaks to the needs of the nation's entrepreneurship ecosystem.
"The new Kigali hub is housed on the historic École Belge site in central Kigali. The École Belge de Kigali, established in 1965, is one of the oldest international school facilities in Rwanda. With the historic classrooms and former school playgrounds at risk of being demolished for high-rise commercial use, MASS aimed to preserve the historic structure of the École Belge and illustrate how adaptive reuse could work within the neighborhood to create moments of green and public spaces." - ArchDaily
Nairobi, Kenya will be hosting the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly (UN-Habitat Assembly) next week. We can begin to see a range of solutions and use cases that signal a deeper and more meaningful approach to building, through a co-creative holistic design and habitation for innovation.
#work #future #urbanplanning #creative #entrepreneurship #circulareconomy
