Across the African continent, brilliant minds are making groundbreaking contributions that are advancing science, driving innovation, and tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. From pioneering research into infectious diseases to cutting-edge architecture that reimagines sustainable living, African scientists and scholars are shaping our understanding and improving lives in their communities and beyond.
In this powerful collection of profiles, we celebrate the remarkable journeys and impactful work of several of Africa’s most influential researchers, innovators, and thought leaders. Published previously in the prestigious Kenya Airways Msafiri magazine, these intimate portraits offer a rare glimpse into the lives, motivations, and achievements of these trailblazing African Scientists.
Within these profiles, you will encounter extraordinary individuals who have defied odds, pushed boundaries, and harnessed their intellect for the greater good. Their stories are as diverse as the African continent itself, reflecting the brilliance and innovation thriving across this rich tapestry of nations, cultures, and peoples.
David Obura was born in 1966 in Kenya to Chris Obura and Anna Needs. His childhood was spent outdoors, fostering his love for nature through camping trips and hours snorkeling at Tiwi Beach. After studying zoology at Harvard, David’s undergraduate research on coral reefs in Jamaica cemented his desire to become a coral reef scientist.
His PhD at the University of Miami explored how sediments from Kenya’s Sabaki River affected coral bleaching. Though the reefs showed stress, they proved resilient. The 1997 El Niño event shifted David’s focus to climate change’s impacts, studying which coral species are most vulnerable to bleaching and reef recovery.
Recognizing the need to connect his research to local communities, David spent years going to Diani’s coral reefs with fishermen, gaining respect for their knowledge. In 1999, he co-founded CORDIO to document changes to Western Indian Ocean reefs and inform policies promoting sustainability. Rather than chronicle reef destruction, David aims to create a better future through his work.
Gordon Awandare was born in 1974 in Ghana. As a child, he lived with his grandparents in a village, suffering frequent severe malarial episodes that claimed his younger brother’s life. This early experience shaped his career path into malaria research.
After completing his Master’s in Ghana, Awandare’s impressive work led a professor to encourage him to pursue a PhD in the US. He then worked at the Walter Reed Army Institute before returning to Ghana, leaving a well-paying American job to make an impact back home.
With limited resources initially, Awandare used personal funds to establish his laboratory until securing a grant. Now a professor at the University of Ghana, he founded the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in 2014. WACCBIP provides top-notch facilities and over 300 scholarships for African scientists researching infectious diseases.
Awandare aims to create an environment where young Africans can conduct high-quality research and collaborate, developing homegrown talent and solutions to tackle diseases like the malaria that afflicted him as a child.
Gordon Awandare was born in 1974 in Ghana. As a child, he lived with his grandparents in a village, suffering frequent severe malarial episodes that claimed his younger brother’s life. This early experience shaped his career path into malaria research.
After completing his Master’s in Ghana, Awandare’s impressive work led a professor to encourage him to pursue a PhD in the US. He then worked at the Walter Reed Army Institute before returning to Ghana, leaving a well-paying American job to make an impact back home.
With limited resources initially, Awandare used personal funds to establish his laboratory until securing a grant. Now a professor at the University of Ghana, he founded the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in 2014. WACCBIP provides top-notch facilities and over 300 scholarships for African scientists researching infectious diseases.
Awandare aims to create an environment where young Africans can conduct high-quality research and collaborate, developing homegrown talent and solutions to tackle diseases like the malaria that afflicted him as a child.
Peace Bagasha initially had reservations about studying medicine due to a fear of causing harm or dealing with death. However, witnessing the HIV/AIDS crisis in 1990s Uganda and caring for dying relatives motivated her to pursue the field to help others.
During her medical training at Mbarara University, Bagasha was inspired by a visiting nephrologist’s passion, sparking her fascination with kidney diseases. After specialist training in Canada, she returned to Uganda for a PhD focused on the quality of life for end-stage kidney disease patients.
Her research revealed the enormous financial, emotional and logistical burdens dialysis places on Ugandan patients who cannot afford transplants. Surprisingly, the quality of life was similar for those on dialysis or palliative care.
Now one of just 12 nephrologists in Uganda, the 38-year-old is training more specialists while collaborating with the Uganda Kidney Foundation. Her goal is to build expertise to make kidney transplants possible in Uganda within years, alleviating suffering for patients.
Refiloe Masekela was born in 1974 in rural Limpopo, South Africa. Though her early education was the inferior Bantu system under apartheid, her parents enrolled her in a private Anglican school that inspired her to pursue medicine like her uncle.
After specializing in pediatrics at the University of Pretoria during the HIV/AIDS epidemic’s peak, Refiloe established the department’s first pediatric HIV clinic in 2005. Witnessing children’s remarkable recoveries on antiretroviral drugs was immensely rewarding.
However, she noticed many HIV-positive children had severely damaged lungs from repeated infections. This motivated Refiloe to receive pulmonology training, becoming the department’s first pediatric pulmonologist. Her PhD explored using antibiotics for lung rehabilitation, though results were negative.
Shifting to pediatric asthma research, Refiloe informed new national diagnosis and treatment guidelines. When COVID-19 emerged, she joined a multi-country African study revealing an alarming 8% pediatric mortality rate, highlighting vaccination priorities. Now, Refiloe aims to improve asthma care standards across Africa through the Global Asthma Network.
Dr. Sophie Uyoga’s journey into research began unexpectedly during her undergraduate years at Jomo Kenyatta University when she attended a career talk highlighting opportunities at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Intrigued, she pursued internships there and later earned her MSc and PhD focused on immunology research.
While studying pediatric blood transfusions, Sophie discovered many recipients had sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder. Interacting with these children and families at the Kilifi sickle cell clinic, she realized they lacked information and understanding about their condition.
Determined to make this knowledge accessible, Sophie obtained funding to create an educational comic book called “Sickle Cell Heroes.” It addressed concerns from both children and parents in an engaging format, helping build community awareness.
Though COVID-19 disrupted distribution initially, Sophie remains dedicated to improving sickle cell disease treatment in Kenya. Her current work aims to enhance blood matching for safer, longer-lasting transfusions benefiting these pediatric patients throughout their lives.