"The accolade is one of nine awards presented annually to publicly nominated and industry-recommended figures by a panel of judges from across Africa. Nominees are evaluated based on 'impact, innovation, sustainability, and contribution to Africa's growth.' Lokko is the Founder and Chair of the African Futures Institute (AFI), headquartered in Accra, Ghana, and Director of the Nomadic African Studio, an annual month-long itinerant teaching program working across the African continent."
"The African Futures Institute was founded in 2021 in Accra as a new model for architectural education centered on three areas: teaching, research, and public events. The first edition of its pan-African flagship program dedicated to rethinking education and practice, the Nomadic African Studio (NAS), was held in Fez, Morocco, in 2025, with the next iteration taking place in Accra from 20 July to 14 August 2026."
"Following the institute's vision to explore diverse, radical, and genuinely inclusive ways to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges, the NAS program is conceived as a response to the limitations of conventional Western-centric models of architectural and spatial education. Both platforms aim to position Africa as a central generator of ideas about the future, recognizing the continent as one of the world's youngest and fastest-urbanizing regions."
Lesley Lokko OBE has been honored with the African Cultural Icon Award for her leadership in promoting African culture and heritage internationally. The award recognizes her transformative contributions to architecture, education, and cultural discourse. Lokko founded the African Futures Institute in Accra, Ghana in 2021, establishing a new model for architectural education focused on teaching, research, and public events. The institute's flagship program, the Nomadic African Studio, operates as an annual month-long itinerant teaching initiative across the African continent. The first edition occurred in Fez, Morocco in 2025, with subsequent iterations planned for Accra. These platforms position Africa as a central generator of ideas for addressing global challenges, recognizing the continent's youth and rapid urbanization as catalysts for innovative thinking and education beyond Western-centric models.
#african-architecture-education #cultural-heritage-promotion #pan-african-initiatives #architectural-innovation #african-futures-institute
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