Visual Language(s) of Afrofuturism

Olalekan Jeyifous is a Brooklyn-based visual artist and architect whose work embodies the essence of Afrofuturism. By integrating elements of science fiction, speculative design, and African Diaspora experience, he envisions alternative futures that challenge conventional narratives and highlight alternative pathways to construct and live in the world. In this video, he discusses his approach to creating speculative urban landscapes that critique present societal structures by reimagining the past and future. His projects explore themes of urbanization, community, and the environment, presenting a blend of possible futures influenced by African Diasporic experiences.

In his "Shanty Megastructures" series, Jeyifous envisions a futuristic Lagos with towering structures emerging from informal settlements. His work aligns with the themes discussed in Mapping Afrofuturism: Understanding Black Speculative Practice, highlighting how Afrofuturism serves as a framework for understanding societal constructs and knowledge production. Ultimately, artistic production sparks new ways of seeing that push us all toward new ways of being.