Dumbor’s art struck me like a bolt of lightning with its striking beauty, extraordinary creativity, and poetic depth. I felt sucked in and inspired by his artistic universe on the spot.
So my desire to learn more about the artist was visceral, and I was delighted to be able to make his acquaintance via video call a few days later.

Dumbor began drawing at an early age. As a child, he was not very social. He lacked reading and writing skills (which he developed very well later on) and lived in a world where his imagination was king. But in our reality, he had a superpower — a sense of observation that enabled him to analyze everything in minute detail and later reproduce it from memory alone. In other words, Dumbor had a photographic memory.

He first exercised this power on nature: trees, plants, leaves, animals… He studied them and then reproduced them. This exercise quickly turned into a passion, and soon the teenager was capable of artistic prowess using only a ballpoint pen and the canvas of his mind.

Today, the young man is an established artist in constant pursuit of improvement. He has numerous awards and exhibitions to his credit, including the winner’s prize in the Art Battle Africa live painting competition in Nigeria in 2017, first prize in the Dubai/RSG International Painting Competition in Dubai in 2021, and third place in the BIC Art Master Africa art competition in 2022.

His imagination, which remains the major source of his creations, has led him to adopt the name Dr Imagination (in reference to the Doctor Strange character whom he is particularly fond of).

As an artist, Dumbor believes that art would not exist without the ability to imagine and bring to life an idea or concept. Through his work, he seeks to interpret his ideas about his roots, notably African history, and what it means to be African. He enjoys exploring the beauty of African cultures and reflecting on the profound impact of nature on our daily lives, past, present, and future.

His art immerses us in an Afrosurrealistic world that reminds us that man and nature are one and capable of extraordinary things.

Dumbor’s dream is to take his art to every corner of the world and share it with as many people as possible. Given his exceptional artistic power, I don’t see what could stop him.

Thank you so much for this honest and mind-expanding conversation, Dr. Imagination. I fully support you in your conquest!

To purchase one or more of Dumbor’s dazzling works, contact him here: https://www.instagram.com/dumbor_debeeh/

Location: Lagos (Nigeria)