Your Old Phone Could End Up as E-Artwork: African E-Waste Jewelry and Upcycling
Your Old Phone Could End Up as E-Artwork
Old electronics don’t have to become trash. Across Africa, creative designers are transforming discarded phones, CDs, and computers into jewelry and modern art. This growing movement not only recycles e-waste but also creates income and raises awareness about sustainability.
Everyday Electronics Become Contemporary Art
Kenyan artist David Nderitu, once a homeless teen, now makes earrings and other jewelry from waste computer and cell-phone parts. He can craft around 60 pairs of earrings in just 15 days. His journey began at the Children, Youth Empowerment Center in Nyeri County, where young people learn trades to build self-sufficiency.
Mentors, including professors from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Nairobi, encouraged David to turn discarded technology into a business. During a 2010 visit, professor Owen Reitenauer was so inspired he decided to sponsor David’s education.
Turning Street Life Into Sustainable Design
At just 16, David left the streets to join a children’s home in Thunguma and enrolled in a welding program in the jua kali (informal) sector. There he got the idea to create eco-friendly jewelry from phone and computer scrap — earning a living while cleaning up e-waste.
Global Support for E-Waste Creativity
The now-defunct company Revivn once championed upcycling, collecting old electronics and donating them to low-income communities. In 2014 they highlighted artists using e-waste, including:
- Steven Rodrig — sculptures built from circuit boards with signature green designs.
- Alex Matizo — 19-year-old Kenyan entrepreneur making fashionable, eco-friendly earrings.
- Peter McFarlane — imaginative “fossils” created from technological debris.
This movement proves that sustainability and creativity can intersect, turning yesterday’s gadgets into tomorrow’s art.