Afro-Indigenous Perspective on Context-Driven Design

CfD Conversations: Afro-Indigenous Perspective on Context-Driven Design

Center for Design

Thursday, Dec. 4, from 12-1:30 p.m.

Colonial education systems have long marginalized indigenous knowledge, while the modern conflation of traditional styles with poverty has eroded both pride and policy support for vernacular architecture. Yet contemporary African architecture is experiencing a renaissance, evolving through sustainable materials and designs that preserve and reimagine traditional practices. This panel examines the challenges and opportunities of indigenous design principles through an Afro-centric lens. Four speakers will explore how socio-cultural contexts translate into design, approaches to heritage creation and preservation, resilience building through structures, and the ecological benefits of indigenous systems.

This event will be hybrid. If you want to attend virtually, register here.

Moderator:

Alpha Yacob Arsano: Building Scientist and Educator; Director, Bioclimatic Urban Buildings Lab; Assistant Professor of Architecture, CAMD

Speakers:

Mohamed Ismail: Building Scientist and Educator; Director, Open Structures Research Group; Assistant Professor of Architecture, UVA

Fisiha Likke: Artist, Designer, Educator; Assistant Professor of Design, Lesley University; Ph.D. Candidate, CAMD

Killion Mokwete: Cultural Designer, RIBA Architect, and Educator; Co-founder, Adaptive and Social Impact Collective; Assistant Professor of Architecture, CAMD

Nmadili Okwumabua: Cultural Designer, Urbanist, and Educator; Founder, CPDI Africa; Visiting Faculty, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign

Image credits for the graphic:

By Killion Mokwete
The Grand Mosque of Porto-Novo