Dreaming New Worlds 2025

DNW 2025 Collectives Announcement © DNW 2025 Collectives Announcement

This year, the contributions and perspectives of women* were at the heart of the open call theme ‘Women Designed Cities’. The theme promoted projects that answer the following question: What would cities look and feel like if they were designed by female artists, matriarchs, scientists, carers, engineers and storytellers?

The selected projects present narratives that go beyond Lagos and utilize new creative materials and technologies. The collectives themselves emphasize beauty not as a luxury, but as resistance and connection. I am proud of their feminist approach, which challenges extractive progress and presents open, pluralistic, planetary and intimate ways of being in the world. This year's edition continues the framework for shaping the future that Dreaming New Worlds already presented in 2023. It shows concrete ways of communicating and negotiating with each other in urban space.

As usual, we will accompany you, our community, with an active program and engagement until the exhibition of the resulting works by the two selected collectives in February 2026.

Obieze Chinyere
Curator

Sarauniya Ènè

Sarauniya Ènè is a women-led collective based in Lagos, Nigeria. Our name, “Sarauniya” meaning “Queen” in Hausa and “Ènè” meaning “person” in Igala, embodies our ethos: a return to power, and care through creative resistance. We are five women creatives that draw our strength from the wisdom of African matriarchies, boldly reshaping our environment into what we yearn for.

Our practice is rooted in inclusivity and intersectionality, and at the heart of our collective is a belief in storytelling as a way to hold the memories of those too often erased. We honor our ancestors.

Stephanie Isah is a Lagos-based olfactory artist and poet who transforms scent into a language of memory, mysticism, and emotional presence.
Drawing from African art, urban life and matriarchal healing traditions, her practice explores scent as both a memory archive and a spiritual tool. She creates immersive interventions that hold space for existence and ancestral resonance through sensory design.
Odum Rita is a Lagos-born Designer whose work lives at the crossroads of architecture, memory(Research), and Art. Trained as an architect, she crafts spaces that hold presence. I.e rooms, furniture, and installations. She has worked as Head of Design and Project Manager, delivering work for clients such as BUA Group, Techon, and Dover Engineering. Similarly, Rita’s private practice spans interior architecture, furniture, and exhibition design. Merging traditional craft with contemporary aesthetics. She has recently contributed to cultural projects at Didi Museum, ArtBridge’s Anyanwu, and also as a member of the collective MAIAF, designing environments that elevate narrative and experience. Known for her leadership, detail-oriented process, and collaborative spirit, she brings clarity, care, and vision to every project.
Vetum Gima Galadima is an Archaeologist, Curator and Artist from Kaduna, Nigeria. Her work explores the conservation and re-interpretation of heritage into contemporary context through various mediums like gaming, visual art, textile, photography, narrative storytelling, A. R technology etc. Vetum is an Arts in Medicine and Africa No Filter/Open Country Curatorial Fellow.

Some of her projects include ; ROOT CODEX - a game exploring learning disabilities and Nsibidi/African writing systems, IJE MMUO - a comic book on Ibo and Ibibio ancestral masks, AMONG US- an Augmented Reality and 3D scape of Nok terracotta and “My Ancestors in My Future” is a museum education initiative dedicated to exploring museum artefacts for public education.

Vetum is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Joy Sunday George, also known as Queen Joy, is an HND student and a passionate 3D artist with one year of hands-on experience in crafting photorealistic 3D models. Over the past year, she has collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver top-performing projects, showcasing strong teamwork and communication skills. A standout moment in her journey was serving as the sole 3D artist on a team that placed among the top three winners at the Echoes Game Jam. She also contributed to her team securing 11th place out of 35 entries in another competitive challenge, demonstrating her ability to consistently deliver under pressure.
Nmesoma Ofortube, also known as Soma Bree, is a multi-hyphenate creative with a background spanning music, fashion, and tech. A graduate of FUTO with a degree in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, she has built a versatile career as an A&R, stylist, model, and executive assistant.
Over the years, Soma has worked with artists, executives, and fashion brands, supporting day-to-day operations and creative development. She currently serves as an A&R at a record label, where she helps artists refine their sound, organize recording camps, and align their music with audience demand. Beyond music, she supports a fashion brand with content creation, scheduling, and brand coordination, blending structure with creativity across industries.

ByDesign Studio

ByDesign Studio is a women-led wellness and storytelling collective based in Abuja, Nigeria. Founded by writer Cynthia “Coco” Anetor-Sokei, the collective is made up of Nafisa Bukar an architect and designer, Bigfootinyourface, a Sound Artist / Engineer; Chuka Precious Ozoadibe a Full stack developer and software engineer and Adeola Matti a producer.

Their work wonders on ideas on care presenting its implications for spatial imagination and intentional individual living. With their work, they hope to encourage a slower rhythm to life that builds resilience and connection through design, mythology and rituals.

Cynthia “Coco” Anetor-Sokei is a Nigerian wellness storyteller, editor, and cultural strategist. She is the founder of ByDesign Studio, a creative wellness hub that explores how design, storytelling, and community care can transform everyday life. With experience spanning publishing, media, and cultural projects, Coco’s work centers women’s voices, wellbeing, and inclusive futures.
Chuka Precious Ozoadibe is a Full stack developer and software engineer who enjoys blending code, design, and storytelling to create meaningful digital experiences. Skilled in languages such as Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, React, and Node.js, having built projects ranging from wellness apps to AI-driven tools. Outside of tech, he is passionate about animation, illustrations & multimedia design.
Nafisa Bukar is an architect and designer working across architecture, interior design, urban design, project management, fashion, art, and research.

Rooted in Abuja, Nigeria, and shaped by global experiences, she designs with intention, merging culture, comfort, and sustainability to enhance how people live, work, and connect. She founded Grey Atelier, a human-centric design studio dedicated to creating functional, sustainable, and contextually relevant spaces.

Her designs prioritize wellness, utility, and local identity while embracing a minimalist yet globally resonant aesthetic. Beyond architecture, she actively explores design in other forms, from fashion storytelling to hospitality and product design, demonstrating a holistic approach to creative expression.
Adeola Matti is a Producer, Writer, and Sound Engineer with 5+ years of experience. His expertise spans film, TV, and advertising, as well as providing expert sound engineering for live shows and concerts. With a portfolio of work for Cinema, Showmax, and Multichoice, Adeola specializes in crafting compelling stories for a modern audience.

2025 Programme

Oct 7, 2025 – 12:00 PM

Modular Ethnography for Artists & Designers

How do we listen to the city and translate lived experience into design?
Join us for our Modular Ethnography Workshop, where artists and researchers will explore new ways of gathering data and stories to inspire projects. Participants will learn how to use ethnographic methods to uncover hidden narratives and create meaningful connections with the communities they work with. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to gain insights and skills that can enhance your creative practice and research projects.
Oct 9, 2025 – 2:00 PM

Alternative Urban Planning: A Crash Course on Urban Design

This crash course introduces new ways of thinking about urban planning with care, access, and imagination for inclusive futures. Participants will learn about innovative approaches to urban design that prioritize community needs and engagement. By exploring alternative perspectives, attendees will be equipped to create more inclusive and sustainable urban spaces in their own work.

RSVP to get updates and reminders

Zoom Link (Join directly)
Oct 16, 2025 – 2:00 PM

Sound as a Contemporary Art Medium

This workshop explores sound as an art form and explores its many possibilities. Join us as we explore the intersection of sound and contemporary art in this interactive workshop led by Peter Okotor. Participants will learn how to use sound as a tool for storytelling and creative expression and gain practical skills in creating their own sound art projects. This workshop aims to inspire attendees to think outside the box and push the boundaries of traditional art forms.

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Join Online
Oct 23, 2025 – 2:00 PM

Smell as a Contemporary Art Medium

How can scent transform our experience of space and be used to communicate ideas?
This workshop dives into olfactory art and design, exploring the role of smell in shaping mental pictures and experience. Join us to explore how scent can transform our experience of space through olfactory art and design. Discover the role of smell in shaping memory, intimacy, and unique experiences.
Stay tuned for Novembers programming

Dreaming New Worlds 2025

Sarauniya Ènè

Stephanie Isah

Odum Rita

Vetum Gima Galadima

Joy Sunday George

Nmesoma Ofortube

ByDesign Studio

Anetor-Sokei Cynthia “Coco”

Bigfootinyourface

Chuka Precious Ozoadibe

Bukar Nafisa

Adeola Matti

2025 Programme

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