On the Character of African Architecture
The writer reflects on a troubling shift in Yaounde's urban landscape: newer buildings lack the cultural distinctiveness and durability of older structures, while a proliferation of glass towers—elegant at first but quickly weathered—suggests a loss of architectural wisdom. The piece pairs this observation with profiles of contemporary African architects who are recovering that wisdom through sustainable and culturally grounded design.
If you take me back to high school, I would have chosen architecture as my university major. I love art in all its forms. I love discussing the intersection of art and culture. One day, I was walking around the city in Yaounde, and I noticed something. All the new buildings have almost the same architectural form.
Compared to some of the architecture that was done in the 70s and 80s, the new buildings lack character. Comparing the Reunification monument built in the 70s to the Patriot monument built in 2022, you see a perfect picture of the regression in architectural sophistication and beauty.
Another thing you will notice in Africa is the proliferation of tall glass buildings. Most of these buildings look good for less than a year before they are covered in dust and lines caused by water dripping on them. Few cleaning services exist, and even if they do, they must be very costly because those services will be needed at least once a month to maintain one of those glass buildings in pristine condition.
When you take a look at ancient African architecture, you find a cultural heritage in it. The pyramids in Egypt, the Great Mosque of Djenné.
Many African architects have made significant contributions to the field of architecture, but a few stand out. Some notable examples include:
1. David Adjaye
Born in Tanzania and raised in Ghana, Adjaye is a British architect who has designed numerous buildings around the world, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
2. Francis Kéré
Kéré is a Burkina Faso-born architect who is known for his innovative use of local materials and sustainable design principles.
3. Kunlé Adeyemi
Adeyemi is a Nigerian architect and urban designer who is the founder of NLÉ, a design and research practice focused on cities and infrastructure.
Koffi Kanda:
Kanda is a Togolese architect and the founder of Atelier Koffi & Diabaté, an architecture and design firm based in Lomé, Togo. See some of his work.
Becoming an architect
Inspired to become an architect? The pathway to becoming an architect typically involves the following steps:
Earn a bachelor’s degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). This typically takes four years to complete.
Complete a period of practical training, also known as an internship or articleship. This typically involves working under the supervision of a licensed architect for a set number of hours.
Pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). This is a multi-division exam that tests your knowledge of the practice of architecture.
Obtain a license to practice architecture in your state. This typically involves completing a specified number of years of practical experience and meeting other requirements, such as continuing education.
This piece emerges from a moment of rapid urbanization across African cities, where development pressure often favors generic international styles over locally rooted architectural practice. The comparison between monuments from the 1970s and 2020s reflects a broader anxiety about cultural continuity amid globalization and economic pressure.
The essay names a real tension in contemporary African urbanism: the difference between building that lasts and building that merely appears. Its call to pay attention to materials, maintenance, and cultural heritage—and its highlighting of African architects working at the forefront of sustainable design—offers a quiet counterargument to the assumption that modernity requires abandoning place-specific forms. It remains resonant as African cities continue to grow and the stakes of architectural choice remain high.