David Mbiyu

David Mbiyu (b. 1971, Ilford, England) is a freelance photojournalist who lives and works in London, UK.

Biography

David was born in Ilford ,England but raised in Nairobi, Kenya after his mother returned home after studies in England. His family is of the Kikuyu ethnic group, the most populous ethnic group in Kenya. He studies graphic design as well as self tought himself painting in watercolours. After college in Nairobi and Eldoret, he moved to London for further studes and eventually he begun freelancing as a graphic designer, photojournalist and documentary producer on digital film.

Notable industry work

David's first worked at Afri Media Ltd, the oldest Afrocentric publication featuring African news and politics published in England, [[West Africa[[ magazine (1908 - 2000), with editors Desmond Davis, Bernard Otabil & Adama Gaye. He was a founder member & designer of the first Kenyan newspaper in UK The Eastern Africa Times Newspaper with Gakuru Macharia, Joe Ngugi and Paul Wakaba ( 2000 – 2002) and later the initial layout to Gakuru's Eastern Africa magazine. In 2002 he formed Sixoone Media Ltd (aka 601tv) a freelance media agency with aims to celebrate African fashion, music & culture in the diaspora that has produced amongst other things TEAM . (The Music of East Africa) with Eastern Africa Media Ltd, An Audience with Raila . interview by veteran Kenyan broadcaster Topi Lyambila of Kenyan PM Hon Raila Odinga months before his election in the 2007 Kenya elections.

David's print production (graphic design work includes West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine and Eastern Africa Magazine.

David has done extensive documentation in film & photography of the fashion, music & cultural event in London, UK as well as in Sierra Leone (Rugged Music Festival - 2007), Ayi Jihu's Diva Diaries (2008), Beauties Choice (AIDs/ HIV awareness campaign ), Nigeria(Wish For Africa Charity 2009). David was nominated at the inaugural UK Kenyan Archivers Awards on the category of Most Innovative Person Awards, that was won my Pauline Long ( Founder Miss Eastern Africa UK)

Goodwill/ Charity Work

  • Wish For Africa Medical Mission (2009) - Rivers State, Nigeria
  • Beauties Choice (AIDs/ HIV awareness campaign)
  • Wish For Africa at DeMade (2008) - Brussels , Belgium
  • Rugged Music Festival (2007) - Sierra Leone