MoMA Examines Postcolonial Architecture in West Africa

From July 5 to January 2, the Museum of Modern Art in New York will showcase 'Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa.' This exhibition examines the role of architecture in expressing sovereignty and identity during the period of independence for West African nations from 1957 to 1961. It includes around 450 items sourced from over 50 contributors across 17 nations, featuring architectural drawings, models, and archival photographs categorized thematically by education, housing, and urban infrastructure. Notable works highlighted are Victor Adegbite's Africa Pavilion at the Accra Trade Fair (1962-1967), Rinaldo Olivieri's Pyramide in Abidjan (1973), and the CICES complex in Senegal by Jean-François Lamoureux and Jean Louis Marin. The exhibition connects African architects like John Owusu Addo, Demas Nwoko, and Cheikh Ngom with international figures such as Pier Luigi Nervi and Zoran Bojović. Newly created films and photographs link the archival content to contemporary discussions. The show encompasses Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo, presenting modernism as a diverse and adaptable language influenced by local interactions and global exchanges.