What Foreign Architects Get Wrong in the Global South
07.08.2026
Vanity projects, corruption, and cultural blind spots are undermining communities.
Vanity projects, corruption, and cultural blind spots are undermining communities.
Mathias Agbo, Jr.
Detty December: How Lagos’ Urban Street Party Is Fueling an Economic Boom
12.29.2025
This annual gathering is pumping millions into positive changes for one of Africa’s largest metropolises.
This annual gathering is pumping millions into positive changes for one of Africa’s largest metropolises.
The Irony of Nigeria’s Resilient Democracy and Growing Legacy of Urban Tyranny
07.02.2025
Planning policies reflect a deep disdain for the poor, prioritizing elite aesthetics over social equity.
Planning policies reflect a deep disdain for the poor, prioritizing elite aesthetics over social equity.
Urban Farming: A Sustainable Pathway Out of Nigeria’s Unfolding Food Crisis
07.24.2024
Havana, Tokyo, and Paris offer successful examples of how it might work.
Havana, Tokyo, and Paris offer successful examples of how it might work.
How Madagascar Is Confronting Climate Change
12.06.2023
The island nation is grappling with unique and formidable environmental challenges.
The island nation is grappling with unique and formidable environmental challenges.
It’s Time for Africa to Chart Its Own Climate Change Agenda
02.07.2023
Most of the promises coming from industrialized nations have been empty ones.
Most of the promises coming from industrialized nations have been empty ones.
Nigeria’s Ambitious Climate Agenda and Its Misplaced Fixation on Carbon Footprint
11.07.2022
The country needs a local industry-based solution to curtail its biggest emissions.
The country needs a local industry-based solution to curtail its biggest emissions.
African Urbanism: Preserving Cultural Heritage in the Age of Megacities
08.04.2021
It’s time to stop erasing the continent’s rich architectural heritage.
It’s time to stop erasing the continent’s rich architectural heritage.
Public Protests and the Urban Legacies of Colonialism and Military Dictatorship in Nigeria
10.25.2020
The recent anti-SARS protests underscored the utter lack of public open spaces.
The recent anti-SARS protests underscored the utter lack of public open spaces.
Letter From Nigeria: Covid and the African City
08.06.2020
The pandemic and its aftermath highlight longstanding problems, but also present opportunity.
The pandemic and its aftermath highlight longstanding problems, but also present opportunity.
Designer Nicolas-Patience Basabose on Contemporary African Architecture and Urbanism
06.11.2020
A talk with the curator of the debut edition of the Congo Biennale.
A talk with the curator of the debut edition of the Congo Biennale.
Why the Fire at Notre Dame Elicited Few Tears in Africa
12.30.2019
As France rebuilds a cultural icon, it should also take overdue, promised measures to restore the African heritage it stole and destroyed.
As France rebuilds a cultural icon, it should also take overdue, promised measures to restore the African heritage it stole and destroyed.
Rebuilding Nigeria: When Architecture Is About Restoring Culture
08.12.2019
Moving past a decade of terror means investing in the potential of what is already there, not creating flashy one-offs.
Moving past a decade of terror means investing in the potential of what is already there, not creating flashy one-offs.
Coming Home: A Young Architect Returns to Her Native Madagascar
07.07.2019
A talk with Joan Razafiamaharo on the challenges of contemporary practice.
A talk with Joan Razafiamaharo on the challenges of contemporary practice.
How Sectarian Conflicts Permanently Alter the Psychogeography of African Cities
04.15.2019
The Nigerian city of Jos is textbook case in fear and division.
The Nigerian city of Jos is textbook case in fear and division.
The Bizarre and Confounding Influence of Dubai on Africa’s Emerging Cities
02.05.2019
Across the continent, these new developments go by different names, but all are mimicries of Dubai.
Across the continent, these new developments go by different names, but all are mimicries of Dubai.
African Architecture: Ornaments, Crime & Prejudice
12.26.2018
On reading Adolf Loos’s controversial essay as a young African design student in Europe.
On reading Adolf Loos’s controversial essay as a young African design student in Europe.
An African Modernist Reflects on the State of Nigeria’s Post-Colonial Classicism
09.20.2018
The schism between contemporary architects and traditionalists isn’t quite as fraught on this continent.
The schism between contemporary architects and traditionalists isn’t quite as fraught on this continent.
Urbanization, the African Child, and the Dying Culture of Play
07.08.2018
As the continent develops, places to play disappear.
As the continent develops, places to play disappear.
It’s Time to Reform Africa’s Broken Criminal Justice System
05.22.2018
The barbaric conditions inside its prisons are part of a larger problem.
The barbaric conditions inside its prisons are part of a larger problem.
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