{"id":709901,"date":"2026-01-21T02:21:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T02:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/709901\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T02:21:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T02:21:19","slug":"architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/709901\/","title":{"rendered":"Architecture as Nation-Building: Modernism and Independence in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"js-image-size__link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e3498f97faa018bf3844d-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" rel=\"attachment noopener\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Architecture as Nation-Building: Modernism and Independence in Africa - Image 1 of 13\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e3498f97faa018bf3844d\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"425\" itemprop=\"image\" loading=\"eager\" longdesc=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e3498f97faa018bf3844d-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/recap-rediscovering-modernism-in-africa_1.jpg\" style=\"min-height: var(--featured-height, auto); aspect-ratio: auto 640 \/ 425\" width=\"640\"\/><\/a>Arieh Sharon \/ Faculty of Social Sciences, Ile-Ife. Image \u00a9 Jean Molitor<\/p>\n<p>    Share<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<ul class=\"afd-share__networks clearfix\">\n<li class=\"afd-share__social\"><a aria-label=\"Facebook\" class=\"afd-share__button\" data-insights-category=\"share\" data-insights-label=\"facebook_sharing_options\" data-insights-value=\"1037931\" data-social=\"facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a>\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"afd-share__social\"><a aria-label=\"Twitter\" class=\"afd-share__button\" data-insights-category=\"share\" data-insights-label=\"twitter_sharing_options\" data-insights-value=\"1037931\" data-social=\"twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Architecture%20as%20Nation-Building%3A%20Modernism%20and%20Independence%20in%20Africa&amp;url=https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa&amp;via=archdaily\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a>\n<p>Twitter<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"afd-share__social\"><a class=\"afd-share__button\" data-insights-category=\"share\" data-insights-label=\"email_sharing_options\" data-insights-value=\"1037931\" data-social=\"email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Architecture as Nation-Building: Modernism and Independence in Africa&amp;body=https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\"><\/a>\n<p>Mail<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"afd-share__social\"><a aria-label=\"Pinterest\" class=\"afd-share__button\" data-insights-category=\"share\" data-insights-label=\"pinterest_sharing_options\" data-insights-value=\"1037931\" data-social=\"pinterest\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.archdaily.com%2F1037931%2Farchitecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.adsttc.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F696e%2F3498%2Ff97f%2Faa01%2F8bf3%2F844d%2Flarge_jpg%2Frecap-rediscovering-modernism-in-africa_1.jpg%3F1768830110&amp;description=Architecture%20as%20Nation-Building%3A%20Modernism%20and%20Independence%20in%20Africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a>\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"afd-share__social\"><a aria-label=\"Whatsapp\" class=\"afd-share__button\" data-action=\"share\/whatsapp\/share\" data-insights-category=\"share\" data-insights-label=\"whatsapp_sharing_options\" data-insights-value=\"1037931\" data-social=\"whatsapp\" href=\"whatsapp:\/\/send?text=Architecture+as+Nation-Building%3A+Modernism+and+Independence+in+Africa+%7C+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.archdaily.com%2F1037931%2Farchitecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa%3Futm_source%3DWhatsapp%26utm_medium%3DIM%26utm_campaign%3Dshare-button\" rel=\"nofollow\"><\/a>\n<p>Whatsapp<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Or<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa<\/p>\n<p>Launched in September 2024, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1021063\/rediscovering-modernism-in-africa-from-nostalgia-to-optimism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rediscovering Modernism in Africa<\/a> series joined a growing worldwide interest in this topic. Previously underrepresented in architectural discussions, the work of architects and researchers on the continent and abroad has continued to tell the story of these high-quality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/tag\/modernism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">modern<\/a> works of architecture. These buildings represent designers striving to create locally suited architecture using global concepts and technologies, coinciding with huge political changes as most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/tag\/africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">African<\/a> countries gained their independence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"thumbs afd-desktop-e clearfix\"><a class=\"thumbs__link\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e34a22b1fe4018925f4bf\" href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e34a22b1fe4018925f4bf-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-image\" rel=\"attachment noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Architecture as Nation-Building: Modernism and Independence in Africa - Image 2 of 13\" class=\"thumbs__img b-lazy\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e34a22b1fe4018925f4bf\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768962076_956_recap-rediscovering-modernism-in-africa_1.jpg\" height=\"125\" longdesc=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e34a22b1fe4018925f4bf-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-image\" title=\"Cover of the Modernism in Africa book, published by Birkh\u00e4user &amp; Docomomo. Image Courtesy of Birkh\u00e4user, Docomomo\" width=\"125\"\/><\/a><a class=\"thumbs__link\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e34ae02a56b0189aa0413\" href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e34ae02a56b0189aa0413-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" rel=\"attachment noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Architecture as Nation-Building: Modernism and Independence in Africa - Image 3 of 13\" class=\"thumbs__img b-lazy\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e34ae02a56b0189aa0413\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768962076_844_recap-rediscovering-modernism-in-africa_1.jpg\" height=\"125\" longdesc=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e34ae02a56b0189aa0413-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" title=\"El Ikhwa Building, Khartoum \/ Abdelmoneim Mustafa (perspective adjusted). Image \u00a9 Ahmed Osman\" width=\"125\"\/><\/a><a class=\"thumbs__link\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e34562b1fe4018925f4ba\" href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e34562b1fe4018925f4ba-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" rel=\"attachment noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Architecture as Nation-Building: Modernism and Independence in Africa - Image 4 of 13\" class=\"thumbs__img b-lazy\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e34562b1fe4018925f4ba\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768962077_958_recap-rediscovering-modernism-in-africa_1.jpg\" height=\"125\" longdesc=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e34562b1fe4018925f4ba-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" title=\"International Fair of Dakar. Image \u00a9 Iwan Baan\" width=\"125\"\/><\/a><a class=\"thumbs__link\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e345f02a56b0189aa040e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e345f02a56b0189aa040e-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" rel=\"attachment noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Architecture as Nation-Building: Modernism and Independence in Africa - Image 5 of 13\" class=\"thumbs__img b-lazy\" data-nr-picture-id=\"696e345f02a56b0189aa040e\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768962077_855_recap-rediscovering-modernism-in-africa_1.jpg\" height=\"125\" longdesc=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e345f02a56b0189aa040e-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" title=\"Sidi Harazem Thermal Spa \/ Jean-Francois Zevaco. Image \u00a9 Dustywood\" width=\"125\"\/><\/a><a class=\"gallery-link afd-desktop-e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1037931\/architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa\/696e3498f97faa018bf3844d-architecture-as-nation-building-modernism-and-independence-in-africa-photo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Architecture as Nation-Building: Modernism and Independence in Africa - More Images\" class=\"thumbs__img b-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/recap-rediscovering-modernism-in-africa_1.jpg\" itemprop=\"image\" bad-src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAUEBAAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=\"\/>+ 8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rediscovering <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/tag\/modernism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Modernism<\/a> in Africa explored a multiplicity of themes under &#8216;Modernism&#8217; in &#8216;Africa.&#8217; Modernism here is understood as the architecture of the Modern Movement initiated by architects like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/tag\/le-corbusier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Le Corbusier<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/tag\/walter-gropius\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Walter Gropius<\/a> in mainland <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/tag\/europe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Europe<\/a> in the early twentieth century. Together with the rejection of history, it was characterized by a focus on function, the dismissal of ornament, and the innovative use of new materials and structural capabilities. These made Modernism easily transferable to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/tag\/africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Africa<\/a>, which, in the middle of the twentieth century, was going through a period of profound change and liberation from colonialism.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/loader-blue.gif\" alt=\"Content Loader\" style=\"width: 40px; margin: 24px;\"\/><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Arieh Sharon \/ Faculty of Social Sciences, Ile-Ife. Image \u00a9 Jean Molitor Share Share Facebook Twitter Mail Pinterest&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":709902,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3939],"tags":[212834,212829,212828,2740,212830,4023,20227,4021,4020,5719,4022,321,77,19912,212831,212833,10544,212832,5724,6489,12,3007,43410,2196,11144,53236,16,15,41606],"class_list":{"0":"post-709901","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-abdelmoneim-mustafa","9":"tag-ad-africa-rediscovering-modernist-architecture","10":"tag-ad-recap-articles","11":"tag-africa","12":"tag-african-modernism","13":"tag-architecture","14":"tag-articles","15":"tag-arts","16":"tag-arts-and-design","17":"tag-cities","18":"tag-design","19":"tag-egypt","20":"tag-entertainment","21":"tag-ghana","22":"tag-henri-chomette","23":"tag-jane-drew","24":"tag-kenya","25":"tag-maxwell-fry","26":"tag-modernism","27":"tag-morocco","28":"tag-news","29":"tag-nigeria","30":"tag-senegal","31":"tag-south-africa","32":"tag-sudan","33":"tag-uganda","34":"tag-uk","35":"tag-united-kingdom","36":"tag-zambia"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115930705902014215","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/709901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=709901"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/709901\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/709902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=709901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=709901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=709901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}