Olalekan Jeyifous' The Anarchonauts and Shanty Megastructures

The tech-savvy scavengers in these digital illustrations are the Anarchonauts.

In 2125, Lagos, Nigeria is the world’s largest city, housing around 110 million people. As tensions grew between wealthy developers and struggling communities, along with environmental issues and the exploitation of local resources, the old systems fell apart.

Out of this chaos, the Anarchonauts developed a new form of government. Resilient and resourceful, they repurposed the leftover parts of the old world to create local solutions in water filtration, medicine, education, waste reuse and energy. Their government mixes technology, culture and environmental care to create a future where humanity and nature thrive together.

This vision comes from Nigerian-born, US-based artist Olalekan Jeyifous. His work explores alternative futures where technology, culture, and sustainability merge, imagining adaptable, self-sustaining communities. These visions challenge Western ideas and offer radical solutions to global issues and urban challenges.

Shanty Megastructures

The Anarchonauts series explores the lives of people in Jeyifous’ Shanty Megastructures project. The project recasts informal settlements, or ‘shantytowns’, as tall, complex structures that rise above the city. Made from materials like corrugated metal and plastic sheets, these buildings are connected by winding walkways filled with plants. These speculative structures show the creativity and adaptability of people living in underprivileged urban areas, turning neglected spaces into centres of innovation and sustainability.

Inspired by screen culture

Olalekan Jeyifous’ art blends science fiction, cyberpunk and Afrofuturism. His Shanty Megastructures evoke the chaotic, tech-filled cities of Blade Runner (1982), where progress and decline coexist. Jeyifous also merges traditional African designs with futuristic architecture, much like the Afrofuturist style of Wakanda in Black Panther (2018). In both, African culture and technology develop freely, unhindered by colonialism, creating an advanced, empowered society that honours African identity.