The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has opened Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, an exhibition exploring how architecture shaped newly independent African nations between the late 1950s and early 1980s. Running through January 2, 2027, the exhibition features approximately 450 objects gathered through four years of research across Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. Curated by Martino Stierli, Ikem Stanley Okoye, and Mallory Cohen, it highlights the work of pioneering African architects alongside international collaborators who designed landmark civic, educational, and commercial buildings. Featured projects include Ghana’s Africa Pavilion, Nigeria’s University of Ife, and Côte d’Ivoire’s La Pyramide. Through drawings, photographs, models, films, and archival materials, the exhibition showcases how architecture became a powerful expression of self-determination, Pan-African ideals, and cultural identity during the post-independence era.
ArchDaily