Arts Fellows 2019/2020

Selly is a Senegalese-American journalist, as well as the founder and Executive Director of None on Record. The digital media organization shares the stories of Africans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Kenyan photographer Mutua has travelled across cities and countries in Southern Africa, taking portraits of different urban and city landscapes to “to disrupt the narrative about urban Africa.”

Phoebe is a Kenyan-British artist. One of recent works, Mutumia, is a celebration of women and a tribute to African women in history who staged revolutions with their bodies when their voices were silenced.

Maïmouna is a Nairobi-based storyteller and media consultant. In 2014 she co-founded the arts and media company Positively African and launched the Nairobi Storytelling Festival in 2016.

Adaobi’s debut novel I Do Not Come To You By Chance was launched to global critical acclaim in 2010. The Nigerian essayist and journalist has since made a name for herself as one of the most prominent African writers of her time.

Nicole is an acclaimed TV and film producer behind the hit web series An African City. Season 3 of the show will be aired by a prominent U.S. network, making it the first TV series on a U.S. network that’s set exclusively in West Africa.

Sean is an Associate Professor of International Affairs at The New School. He is founder and editor of Africa is a Country, a site of criticism, analysis and new writing.

Tunisian brother and sister team Selma and Sofiane use dance and choreography to create a body of work that’s noted for its technical precision, as well as the richly textured way they weave social engagement into every project.