Vice MAGAZINE

VICE

Ocotober 2019

THIS MONTH'S ISSUE EVOLUTION OF HAIR TRENDS AT STRATHMORE

ISSUE NO. 1

BLOGGING:TREND OR HOBBY? DRIVING RESPONSIBILITY THE STRATHMORE WAY

CONTENTS 3 4

EDITOR'S NOTE THE EVOLUTION OF HAIR TRENDS AT STRATHMORE A general overview on how Stratizens have changed their tastes in hairdo over time.

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DRIVING RESPONSIBILITY THE STRATHMORE WAY Keith explores how the culture in Strathmore University is shaped.

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BLOGGING: TREND OR HOBBY? Christine's perspective on blogging

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UPCOMING EVENTS

OUR TEAM Gladys Wambui - Editor In Chief Christine Mukasa - Correspondent

Keith Munene - Correspondent Brian Kasiu - Graphics

PEONY • 2

EDITOR'S NOTE

By Gladys Wathiomo

It is interesting how time flies in today’s environment. We get so busy chasing deadlines, leading teams, beating traffic, chasing our degrees, managing our studies and social lives, that it is only when Christmas comes that we realize another 365 days have gone by just like that.

As fast as the time goes by, so does things that are popular in this age. Yesterday natural hair was the in thing. Today people are going bald. Maybe tomorrow we will have braids made out of sisal. Who knows? This begs the question what is popular culture and what makes popular culture?

Popular culture in the most simple terms is culture that has been passed on and popularized by a large number of people. So popular culture is not just a trend or challenge on twitter or a new fashion trend or something that “the kids do these days”. With a team of competent writers and pop culture enthusiasts, we came up with this issue that will look into the aspects of pop culture in Strathmore University. The team had a great time coming up with the content for this magazine. We hope it reflects in the articles. As you read through, take time to really take in the material. It is our hope that you will now look around and appreciate everything happening around you. And when it is moving to fast, stop and take a minute to breathe.

Viva!

VICE | October 2019

THE EVOLUTION OF HAIR TRENDS AT STRATHMORE Over the last few years, the hairstyles in Strathmore have moved fromthe super long braids to the current spring twist braids. When I first joined Strathmore, long braids were all the craze. Students walked down the corridors, with braids so long they went past their backs and some even took it as far as having them at ankle length. Then came the natural hair wave that not only swept Stratizens but females all over Nairobi.

Ladies all over campus embraced their natural kinky curls, styling them in all sort of manner and adorning them with different accessories. Soon after crochet braids took over the campus. Anywhere you looked, the afro crochet and crochet braids surrounded you. Surprisingly this trend was taken up by lecturers as well and went on for a quite a well.

Shortly after, hair ornaments were the “in thing”. Now, this one was quite the trend, it is still trending. Gold and silver ornaments of all shapes and sizes hang on or were attached to students’ hair regardless of what hairstyle they had.

Then came the Fulani braids. The west African hairstyle was all the buzz, as students embraced the new culture. This one was so popular three in five females had it. With time all the above hairstyles became the norm until recently when a new hairstyle known as faux locs took the Stratizens by storm. This was, I believe, the biggest wave ever at Strathmore. Everyone did it (me inclusive). Students blogged about it, made tutorials about it. Faux locs, like the hair ornaments are still trending and will continue to trend for a while. Finally, the current trend at Strathmore University is spring twists. The short, curly and bouncy hairstyle is the “it” style in hair today and can be worn in many beautiful styles.

So, if you have been looking for something trendy and chic, check out this lovely hairstyle

By Christine Mukasa Photo Credit: PictureGuru

VICE | October 2019

DRIVING RESPONSIBILITY, THE STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY WAY

Strathmore University prides itself as a leading higher education learning institution in East and Central Africa. The university offers various diploma, undergraduate and post-graduate degree programmes.

However, if there is one issue which makes the institution stands out is how staff and students in Strathmore take responsibility with what they do. This is carried out in ways as outlined below.

The Cafeteria is a meeting point within the Students’ Centre where people converge to discuss various issues while having a cup of tea or lunch. A keen look would show that people once done with eating return their utensils to a counter adjacent to the kitchen.

This has been the hallmark of the university as it shows the responsibility students and staff take. This also ensures that other people can get a table to eat without having to wait for housekeeping staff to clear the table. This has instilled a culture of responsibilities among incoming students who by observation adopt a similar culture. The phenomenon is also witnessed in the first floor where various eateries are located. This culture has set the university apart compared to messes in other institutions.

Consequently, students and staff queue in the cafeteria- there’s no distinction that one group issuperior to the other.

Another feature which the positioning of bins at the various centres within campus This ensures that students and staff can throw the trash at designated points and are not tempted to litter. This framework has enabled the university to maintain high standards of cleanliness in the school. From the corridors in the buildings, the Student Centre to the garden, the premises are dotted with dustbins.

Due to a culture of disposal of litter, when students complete their studies at Strathmore University the values have been inculcated into them, and hence become more responsible with how they handle litter post-Strathmore.This ensures that garbage collection is made easier as opposed to have a few collection centres which may tend to overflow with trash.

Staff and students enjoy convenience of disposing trash while keeping the environment clean.

Another model which seeks to empower students with more responsibility is the coteaching model within Strathmore whereby students are given tasks in their respective units and have to present on them in class, either individually or in groups. What this does is abdicates duties to students and allows us to explore topics such as research and presentation techniques. When presentations are carried out the students get feedback from their colleagues and lecturer, who can critique his/her presentation. This handing over of teaching obligations to students hence improve our presentation skills and promotes participatory learning in classroom.

From these examples, we can deduce that the responsibility taught to students is beneficial and enables us to learn holistically as students in addition to our respective course material. This grounds us to take on more challenges even as we transition from campus to the workplace.

WORDS BY KEITH MUNENE VICE | October 2019

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Blogging: TREND OR HOBBY?

By Christine Mukasa

Blogging has become very common in Kenya today. People discuss their personal beliefs, share their experiences and give tons of advice in their blogs. Some blog daily, others, every week or two and others every month. Everyone has their own style and that’s how they do it.

However, it seems everyone, and I mean everyone is doing it. “Hey, can you please check out my blog?” is becoming burdensome to those surrounded by those aspiring to become famous and influential bloggers someday. Now, the previous statement sounds mean if you know someone who genuinely loves blogging and believes it is important for them to share what they blog about. But to those who know someone doing it simply because everyone is doing it and even making money from it, it is gospel truth. Blogging should be an experience, a journey for both writer and their audience, not a get rich quick scheme or popularity contest for the idle. When you blog, it should be not just for you, but for your audience. A choice to invite others into your space and share with them what you know and grow them. These days one wonders whether some blogs are worth reading as people have taken to the activity as a mere trend. “… started a blog, I’m going to start one to,” is not reason enough for one to start reading your blog. Be intentional about it, it’s not something you start simply because it’s all the buzz right now and later discard when something new comes along.

Once more, be intentional, aim to connect with someone. Food for thought next time you log on to your blog.

VICE | October 2019

CONVENIENCE OF THE GAME IS THE NAME

In the capital, many residents of Nairobi are switching towards attaining efficiency in their day to day tasks.

This has been achieved by utilising apps such as Uber and Bolt which rovide cab- hailing services easing transport needs, as well as Jumia Food and Uber Eats which provide door to door delivery of meals from select restaurants.

PHOTO CREDIT; MUTUA MATHEKA

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n a rapidly growing city of Nairobi, residents of the city popularly referred to as Nairobians have begun and are continuously embracing the aspect of convenience in their lives. This has been coupled with the rapid increase of smartphone penetration in the country. In this article, we will look at convenience from the aspects of transportation and food delivery and shopping Transport is a dynamic sector in the city and people move around from one place to another be it to their workplaces, social areas or simply visiting their friends and relatives. The public transport sector is chaotic to say the least, with cases of pick pocketing and unruly drivers being commonplace.

Taxi-hailing apps stepped in to fill the gap and Uber pioneered this phase and since then other apps such as Bolt and Little Ride have followed through seeking a slice of the market. These apps are being preferred by many due to reliability in pick up and drop-off stations and safety since records of the drivers are retained in the app.

To even reach the market further, this year marked an introduction of bus-hailing apps Swvl and Little Shuttle, targeting commuters. These are largely popular among the routes they ply since they offer an alternative to matatus operating.

Transport is a dynamic sector in the city and people move around from one place to another be it to their workplaces, social areas or simply visiting their friends and relatives. The public transport sector is chaotic to say the least, with cases of pickpocketing and unruly drivers being commonplace. Taxihailing apps stepped in to fill the gap and Uber pioneered this phase and since then other apps such as Bolt and Little Ride have followed through seeking a slice of the market.

'Nairobians have begun and are continuously embracing the aspect of convenience in their lives'

These apps are being preferred by many due to reliability in pick up and drop-off stations and safety since records of the drivers are retained in the app. To even reach the market further, this year marked an introduction of bushailing apps Swvl and Little Shuttle, targeting commuters.

These are largely popular among the routes they ply since they offer an alternative to matatus operating.

Eating out is a phenomenon which is gaining traction among residents in the city- with people wanting to meet up and have a good time. As a result, consumers have become attached to particular food spots they love and as a result want to consume their meals even when they are not close to these outlets and do not feel like heading to them. And this is where food delivery apps step in- whereby these apps partner with select restaurants to deliver food within a radius. Some notable examples of these apps are Jumia Food and Glovo. As a result, meals are delivered to the consumers be it at their offices or homes depending on their location. This has also been accelerated by internet penetration which has enabled the rise of these apps which are on-demand services.

The conventional shopping model has been whereby consumers head to the supermarket pick the items they prefer and check out at the till. This model whilst is still largely in place, there is a growing trend of consumers shopping online. Online shopping has brought about reliability where clients at the touch of a button can place their order(s) and pay on delivery or online.

E-commerce has been facilitated by the rise of platforms such as Jumia, Kilimall, Masoko among others, as well as the rise of various cashless payment options such as card transactions, mobile money and PayPal. When these two aspects are integrated, this creates a seamless experience for consumers.

In conclusion, the current trends in the lives of many residents of the capital point towards a leaning for easier accessibility of goods and services for people, and this looks set to transcend into other cities within the country.

Its’ noteworthy to mention that there have been some drawbacks in these processes, which are being continuously addressed to improve the overall user experience.

By Keith Munene