The Bridges Fellowship

The Program

Led by Kenyan Producer Karishma Bhagani in collaboration with Producer Hub and Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics, this 2-year fellowship program is centered around training African producers, using a uniquely crafted African and Afro-diasporic pedagogy, focused on humanizing producing in cultural infrastructure building.

The proof of concept will engage an initial cohort of 10 fellows of African descent (from the African continent, African diaspora and SWANA region), to engage in a series of creative discussions and workshop sessions to develop their skills and exchange producing practices.

Each fellowship will culminate in a 3-week residency with a participating arts or producing organization in the US, UK, or on the African continent.

The goals of this fellowship program are to:

  • Empower African producers to own their systems and methods of knowledge production and support their pursuits of validating African-producing practices in the global artistic playing field.

  • Create a cross-cultural, regional, and international network of producers of African descent in Africa and the diaspora that can result in long-term South-South collaborations, touring circuits, and partnerships.

  • Dismantle siloed and genre-biased understandings of producing practices and encourage generative discourse across the live arts (theatre, music, festivals, literature) and film producing.

  • Promote dialogue and cross cultural exchange between African cultural practitioners and producers and cultural institutions and stakeholders around the world.

  • Foster a sustainable, intergenerational pipeline of creative entrepreneurs on the African continent.

Meet the Inaugural Cohort of Fellows

  • Eulalia Ikawinyit Okello is an experienced accounting professional with over 5 years of expertise in financial management, reconciliation, and administration. She holds a CPA certification (Advance Level) and is highly proficient in computerized accounting systems and Microsoft Office tools.

    Eulalia previously worked as an Accountant at Li’s Chinese Restaurant, where she was responsible for payroll processing, tax returns, and ensuring financial compliance.

    She currently serves as a Finance and Admin Officer at Jukwaa Arts Productions, where she oversees accounting transactions, budget management, financial reporting, and project organization. In addition to her financial duties, Eulalia plays an active role in festival coordination, contributing to the planning and execution of artistic and cultural events.

    Known for her problem-solving abilities, keen attention to detail, and adaptability, Eulalia continues to bring value and efficiency to every role she takes on.

  • José-Arthur NDONG is a Beninese dancer, performer and cultural administrator who has been active since September 2015. Self-taught in his early days, he forged his artistic identity alongside PASSOURI Fabrice, with whom he formed the duo AFRO NEW STYLE BOYS, performing several times on the stages of Cotonou and Abomey Calavi. In 2017, he joined the dance group REPERTOIRE, founded by Horacio DAGBESSI, where he perfected his style under the coaching of Kowiyou OLA, hip-hop and afro dancer.

    Eager to broaden his horizons, in December 2018 he co-founded the collective D-ONS Square, originally designed as a framework for learning and promoting Latin, Afro, coupé-décalé and hip-hop dances. In October 2021, this collective joined the WALO Choreographic Center, marking a turning point in his journey with the learning of traditional Beninese dances and contemporary dance. He also received training in Cultural Entrepreneurship and Artistic Project Management provided by Doctor Éric LOEMBET.

    His commitment to contemporary dance intensified in January 2022 with a first contact with contact dance, followed by the workshop REFRESHER COURSE, a contemporary dance training course organized by the WALO company and the Le GRAND CRU Foundation. This journey leads him to join the play “OPPRESSED”, choreographed by Doegamou ATROKPO under the external supervision of Féri de GEUS. He then refined his art through contact with renowned choreographers such as Irène TASSEMBEDO, Dan AGBETO, Jacob MACHE, Rosangela SILVESTRE and Olivier TAPARGA.

KENYA

BENIN

  • Martina Ayoro is a theatre and film performing artist and lover of art based in Mombasa, Kenya. She is also an environmental warrior as well as a feminist. Her work touches on social issues such as female empowerment and identity. Her recent works have ranged from creating a solo performance, Matanoni, which fused performance, music and dance that advocated for litter free oceans. This was a project during an artist residency (Bahari Huru by Jukwaa Arts Production). Recently, Martina has written, produced and performed her very first own production (Know Your Scent) in 2024. The play explored self identity, motherhood and relationships with men and perfumes.

    She started her acting journey professionally in 2016 with a stage play, Black Milk by Jukwaa Arts Production. She then went on to do a couple of other stage plays with the team as well as work with other production houses such as The Theatre Company of Kenya, Bold Theatre Kenya and Positively African where she was among the main cast in an audio play, Tales of the Accidental City, that was featured in the 2020 Akè festival in Nigeria and later on transitioned into a feature film that is currently doing festival runs.

    Currently as a theatre performer, her work with Jukwaa Arts Production has been community based to advocate for different social issues where she also doubles as the communication manager. She is also a host at a free artist platform called Art Cocktail which is run by Jukwaa Arts Productions that enables upcoming artists to have a platform to showcase their art.

  • Vanessa Iriza is a passionate arts lover with a strong interest in theater and community-based storytelling. She is Burundi and Rwanda heritage and currently completing her undergraduate studies in Marketing.

    For nearly three years, Vanessa has worked at Espace Plus, where she supports daily office operations, finance, and communication. Her role has given her valuable experience in managing creative spaces and understanding what it takes to keep an arts organization running smoothly.

    She is especially passionate about production and believes that great producers help bring powerful stories to life and create space for cultural expression and social change. Inspired by IYUGI Production ltd and her experience at Espace Plus, Vanessa hopes to continue her studies in arts and project management to support creative talent in the Great Lakes region.

    She is excited to join the fellowship to strengthen her skills in project development, connect with fellow creatives, and bring impactful stories to life through thoughtful, community-centered production.

    Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, discovering new ideas, and learning more about the artistic world.

KENYA

RWANDA

  • Tricia Arthur-Stubbs is a Bradford based Dance Practitioner, whose work includes performing, workshop leading, festival directing and producing. Tricia created and directs BRAVE Festival. This acronym stands for “Black Roots and Voices Expressed”. BRAVE arts festival is a fun and practical exploration of Black history with performances and workshops that focus on arts that originated in Black culture.

    Tricia is also the leader of the Cultural Voice Forum’s Black-Led Arts Sub-Network, bringing together Black artists working in Bradford.

    Tricia has been performing and leading dance workshops for over 19 years. She is the founder of Swirl Education, which focuses on leading world dance workshops in schools and at events. Tricia’s Trinidad and Tobago heritage has led her to specialise in Caribbean Carnival Dance. Her work is based on the belief that dance should be fun, inclusive, available to all and that dance can bring positive change."

  • Yassmin Abdalazeim is a Sudanese art and culture practitioner focusing on project management, filmmaking, and creating creative projects and activities within the art and culture sector. With over 9 years of experience in managing art projects.

    Yassmin worked as a project manager and coordinator with Contraband , Fredrick Ebert Stiftung, REMCO and ASWAT Creative Hub in Khartoum-Sudan maintaining an excellent delivery of all the project's aspects.

    In addition to her professional career , Yassmin is also a dedicated advocate for arts education. She co-founded an initiative in Sudan aimed at teaching children the art of filmmaking. Through this program, Yassmin has empowered young minds to express themselves creatively, fostering a new generation of storytellers and filmmakers in the region.

    Throughout her career, Yassmin has collaborated with diverse organizations , including artists, curators, and cultural institutions in managing projects, festivals and activities. Her commitment to fostering creative excellence and promoting cultural exchange has made her a respected figure in the art and culture community in Sudan.

    Yassmin continues to push boundaries, exploring new ways to merge art, film, and social impact. Her dedication to her craft and her passion for storytelling through different arts majors have cemented her position as a leading creative voice in the industry in Sudan.

UNITED KINGDOM

SUDAN & EGYPT

  • Chadota Idda is a dynamic, award-winning artist making bold strides in theatre. A Theatre major, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts and Film Technology from KCA University, and was named Best Director at the 400 Years of Molière Universities Challenge in 2022 and 2023.

    An actor, emerging director, stage manager, and now producer, Chadota’s creative versatility is already reflected in a string of acclaimed productions. Her stage credits include Ngaahika Ndenda by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Too Early for Birds – The Comeback Edition, and leading roles in Simba Bazenga, Market Price, Wata, Repeat After Me, and most recently, Running for My Life.

    In 2025, Chadota received two Kenya Theatre Award nominations:

    • Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Zuweni in Repeat After Me

    • Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Monologue for her portrayal of Agnes in Running For My Life. These come on the heels of her 2022 nomination for Best Performance by A Female in a Lead Role in a Musical for Simba Bazenga.

    Dedicated to growth and excellence, Chadota has trained under top industry professionals including Melissa Kiplagat, Charles Ouda, Emma Caplan, Nice Githinji, Martin Kigondu, and Junior Nyong’o. No matter the medium, Chadota is passionate about telling stories that matter — and about creating work that lingers long after the curtain falls.

  • Cathrine Douglas is dancer, Dance teacher and choreographer who  grew up in the Zimbabwean  township of Tafara (Harare) where performance was part of life. Her  experience of watching Tumbuka Dance Company perform, inspired her to take dance as a profession. Cathrine was invited to join the Dance Foundation Course; a  3 year intensive dance training program at the National Ballet,  with The Dance Trust of Zimbabwe, and was subsequently recruited as one of the female dancers in Tumbuka, and since  then toured extensively with the company both in Zimbabwe and  abroad.  

    In 2008 Cathrine was selected to participate in the 8th ‘African Traditional and  Contemporary Dance Workshop’ at Ecole des Sables (Senegal), to train and collaborate  with other African dancers from across the Continent. In 2010 she was invited to  participate in the ‘Training Chrysalides – Creating the Future’ project involving 63 students  from more than 20 African countries and the African diaspora. In participating in the  Senegalese residencies, Cathrine was able to explore and experiment with artists from  around the world, and had the opportunity to interrogate both their work and their working  processes alongside her own.   

    Cathrine has trained, worked and collaborated with choreographers and artists from  across the globe, including: Germaine Acogny, Norah Chipaumire, Vincent Mantsoe,  Gregory Maqoma, Brett Bailey, Herold George, Salia Sanou, Angelique Kidyo, Patrick  Acogny, etc.  

    Cathrine left Tumbuka in 2011 to join the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe’s Outreach Program where she currently teaches weekly classes to a wide range of communities and schools in Harare.  Cathrine, as a respected professional in the dance arena, concurrently teaches a variety  of traditional African dances as part of the Dance Training at AfriKera Dance Trust. 

    Cathrine, as one of Zimbabwe’s upcoming contemporary choreographers, is particularly  fascinated and driven by the rich cultural heritage and variety of African traditional dance  forms. She is particularly interested in how, from an appreciation of their complexity and diversity, these forms can continually inform and inspire contemporary choreographies in new ways– reinterpreting ancient moves and story lines. Currently she has a particular interest in working in and with the community she grew up in, with special focus mental health in women. 

  • I am a Kenyan-Asian writer and filmmaker with a first-class BA in Film Production. My passion lies in telling stories through documentary filmmaking and art films that challenge existing perceptions of the Global South; and re-write a more honest narrative. I am currently working on projects with AWAAZ and Aperture Africa which explore more honest narratives.

    Additionally, story-telling acts as a tool to further explore what being human means to me. I enjoy working on stories that centralize the human experience; the experience of grief, identity, love and god. I use my personal art space tllayid.art as a mediation space of my works. For me, being alive and creating go hand in hand and are honestly inseparable.

    I am proficient in post-production software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition, and InDesign. I excel in understanding the unique requirements of diverse projects and tailoring my writing and directing styles accordingly. Additionally, I bring a unique cultural perspective, shaped by my experiences working in both East Africa and the United Kingdom, which enables me to effectively collaborate and lead in diverse settings.

  • Wanjiru ‘Ciru’ Njoroge is a seasoned producer with over a decade of experience crafting compelling cinematic stories that resonate with both local and global audiences. Her body of work spans award-winning films, television shows, corporate videos, and impact-driven media; each marked by her commitment to narrative excellence and high production value.

    In 2024, Ciru served as lead producer of the Nairobi Box Office (NBO) Film Festival, curating and executing a dynamic program that celebrated diverse Kenyan cinema. That same year, she made her theatre debut with DaiVerse, a spoken word production that staged nine shows and went on to win Best Spoken Word Production at the 2024 Kenya Theatre Awards.

    Her storytelling work has been recognized beyond borders; she was named a 2022 Fellow of the Video Consortium’s Solutions Storytelling Project and was nominated for Best Production Manager at the 2023 Women in Film Awards (WIFA).Now expanding her creative footprint across both screen and stage, Ciru is passionate about building bridges between artistic mediums and using storytelling as a tool for civic dialogue and cultural transformation.

KENYA

KENYA

KENYA

ZIMBABWE

Meet The Program Team

  • Karishma Bhagani is a producer, dramaturg and theatre-maker from Mombasa, Kenya. Karishma’s work supports the development of a sustainable creative economy within East Africa, as well as sharing African stories on the world stage. Karishma served as a Strategic Consultant for the LAM Sisterhood in Kenya, Associate Producing Director for The Nairobi Musical Theatre Initiative and the Associate Artistic Director for the Tebere Arts Foundation in Uganda. She was also a fellow at the Georgetown Lab for Global Performance and Politics (2019-2022). She recently served as a dramaturg and cultural consultant for Goddess: The Musical (Public Theater, NY and Berkeley Rep, CA), produced The Manic Monologues: Africa Edition as well as Theatre for One: Nairobi Edition in conjunction with the Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi and Octopus Theatricals in New York. She graduated from New York University (NYU) with a B.F.A in Theatre and a B.A. in History. She is a PhD candidate in Theater and Performance Studies at Stanford University, and a Knight Hennessy Scholar. 

  • Nwabisa Plaatjie is a theatre-maker, producer, and cultural strategist based in Ugie, Eastern Cape. With nearly a decade in the arts, her work spans new play development, resource mobilisation, and artist mentorship—though her truest work has always been remembering what was buried and calling it home.

    She speaks the names of artists like prayers. Her work is not infrastructure—it’s altar-making.

    Her international credits include work with Palestinian storytellers in Italy, facilitation in Uganda and Rwanda, touring  23…in Germany, Aha! in China, and producing the inaugural 2025 Meraki Dance Festival with Jazzart Dance Theatre.

    Her journey began in 2016 as a theatre-making intern at Magnet Theatre, a formative year that deepened her understanding of ensemble work, physical theatre, and South African performance traditions. From 2018 to 2022, she led the curation and coordination of the Baxter’s Masambe Theatre, driving its relaunch as a vibrant hub for performance, collaboration, and professional development. She is an alumna of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, ISPA Fellowship, IETM Global Connectors, and Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics. She currently serves as Tour Manager for the Festival Enterprise Catalyst, administered by the National Arts Festival.

    But these titles do not hold her entirety.

    She belongs to her lineage.
    To her daughter.
    To the children she mentors who remember how to dream by watching her try.

    She is not building a career.
    She is restoring what was stolen.
    And every “yes” she gives is prayed over.

  • Rosette is a seasoned producer, Festival and arts manager with over 12 years of experience coordinating, managing, and producing arts events, festivals, and capacity-building programs in Uganda and across Africa. She currently serves as the Line Producer for Tebere Arts Foundation and the Kampala International Theatre Festival, where her expertise in arts management has significantly contributed to the growth and visibility of these cultural platforms.

    Rosette’s extensive experience includes key international roles such as serving as an International Jury Member at the 2023 Zürcher Theater Spektakel in Zurich, Switzerland, and as an International Mentor at the Les Practicables Festival in Bamako, Mali 2023. She was Fellow of the Theatre Producer of Color (2024-2025). She has also been recognized as an Alumni Leader at the Atelier Festival Academy in Kampala (2022) and is an alumnus of the Atelier Festival Academy in Malta (2019). She also served as Event Production Lead, Inauguration of the Billionaire Bond (Business Consortium), Kampala, Uganda.

    During her eight-year tenure with the Bayimba Foundation as the Director of Bayimba Academy, Rosette played a pivotal role in managing and producing the Bayimba International Festival of the Arts and the East African Performing Arts Market, DOADOA. Her leadership and innovative approach have left a lasting impact on the creative arts sector in Uganda and the East African region.

    Rosette’s passion for the development of the creative arts sector in Uganda and Africa is evident in her dedication to mentoring young artists in production management and arts administration. She is also a talented poet, known for her soulful and inspiring poetry that resonates with audiences.

    Rosette holds a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism from Makerere University, and her diverse skill set, coupled with her commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists, makes her a vital force in the African creative arts landscape.

The Bridges Fellowship is generously funded by The Mellon Foundation, Anonymous Donor,
The British Council's UK Kenya Season 2025, and Stanford University's RAISE program.