Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, is the first major exhibition to examine modern architecture from the late 1950s through the early 1980s in the context of political independence in the region. The exhibition will highlight the independence period as a prolific time of architectural production, during which leaders of newly founded African nations sought to redefine themselves and their countries in contrast to colonial rule. This new architectural identity engaged deeply with broader
political ideas of Pan-Africanism and Africanization, which were promoted by new leaders and governments. Spanning seven countries — Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo — the show will be organized around anchor projects that serve as entry points into categories such as cityscapes, education and housing. The exhibition will pay particular attention to the critical contributions of the first generation of trained African architects.
Architects of Liberation will feature approximately 450 objects, including architectural drawings, models and archival photographs, from the collections of over 50 lenders from 17 countries. The exhibition is the result of four years of extensive research in the region. The vast majority of the objects that will be on display have never been presented publicly,
and most of the architects included have never previously been featured in any exhibition or scholarly publication. The exhibition will also include original and commissioned architectural models, as well as a suite of new films and commissioned photographs.
Key works that will be featured include:
- Africa Pavilion, Accra Trade Fair (Ghana) — A circular pavilion symbolizing Ghanaian unity designed by Victor (Vic Adegbite, Jacek Chyrosz, and Stanisław Rymaszewski), with the project led by the Ghana National Construction Corporation (GNCC) between 1962 and 1967
- The Pyramide (Côte d’Ivoire) — An iconic high-rise designed by Rinaldo Olivieri, completed in 1973, that reimagined the skyline of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s largest city
- CICES (Senegal) — A trade-fair campus designed by French architects Jean-François Lamoureux and Jean Louis Marin. CICES is emblematic of Senegalese President Léopold Senghor’s “asymmetrical parallelism,” which introduced diverse, non-repeating elements to create dynamic harmonies.
- Gare de Bessengue (Cameroon) — A train station designed by Jacques Nsangue Akwa and Emilien Douala Bell
- University of Ife (Nigeria) — An ambitious educational project with a master plan by Arieh Sharon
