Hailing from 9 African countries these creatives work in a wide range of design fields that include architecture, urbanism, digital design, visual arts, photography, research and performance.
four mentors
In Building Beyond they will work on projects that re-imagine the future of public space, community and functionality in their own contexts within a growing continent. They will be guided by four mentors, experts in architecture, art and design: artist, architect, critical space practitioner from Sudan, Ola Hassanain; architect, anthropologist and tech entrepreneur from Togo, Sénamé Koffi Agbodjinou; architectural researcher, designer and performer from South Africa, Khensani de Klerk; and fashion designer and artist from Senegal, Selly Raby Kane.
engage, exchange and create
Building Beyond is an alternative educational programme that aims at fostering thought leadership, promoting criticality, and reframing design-based practices. Throughout the year the group comes together online to jointly reflect on the future of cities and communities, whilst each developing a concept that fits into their wider practice. They will spend a week together in Dakar, Senegal, in June to workshop, network, experiment and discover the city, and in October they will be in the Netherlands where they will continue their ongoing engagement, exchange with peers and create new and lasting connections.
With this programme we aim to contribute to an ongoing conversation on how creative practices rooted in locality and community can lead to new perspectives and promote transformative urban agendas that change how we inhabit our world.