Presence Of The Past: The Translation Of Traditional Culture Into Contemporary Form Among The Igbo Peoples Of Southeastern Nigeria, Nelson Agalaba

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Architecture serves as the physical embodiment of a group’s cultural values, history, and social dynamics- or identity. The arrival of European colonialism and modernism brought about a paradigm shift, prioritizing a universal European aesthetic and “international style”, displacing indigenous architectural traditions and severing the deep connections between culture and the natural and built environments. The global south has experienced the brunt of this process, especially the African continent. For example, the Igbo peoples of southeastern Nigeria have lost nearly all examples of their building traditions and have been in a constant struggle to create an architecture that captures their rich …

What We Don't Say Out Loud, Antwan Bowen

Master's Projects

What We Don’t Say Out Loud is a collection of original short stories that explore themes of identity, race, family, queerness, humor, and emotional vulnerability through the lens of Black and marginalized voices. These narratives blend literary realism with elements of magical realism, satire, and personal essay to reflect the emotional truths and unspoken complexities that shape everyday life. Central to the collection is a commitment to portraying characters in their full humanity, often resisting trauma-centered tropes in favor of layered, internal storytelling. From the raw, personal account of Black fatherhood in “The Best Day and the Worst Night,” to …

Duramazwi Digital System (Modules Integration), Laiza Mumiriki, Surprise Prosper Chikotsi, Tafadzwa Muchaiwa

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

This research paper explores the development of the Duramazwi Digital System, a comprehensive platform that integrates digital tools and technologies to enhance the experience of linguists and language learners. By combining the use of a dashboard, API, mobile app, and chatbot to provide users with seamless and interactive language learning experience. The study adopted the Activity Theory as its guiding theory for theoretical insights on natural language processing systems, language and learning. The methodology employed in this research follows the Design Science Research approach. The study utilizes various data collection techniques. The paper presents the system design and implementation details, …

Understanding Humanity: Demarginalizing The Intersection Of Black Masculinity And Feminity For The Psyche, Kandice Fowlkes

Symposium of Student Scholars

As the intersection of race and gender is a feat for the strong Black man and strong Black woman, the double edged sword is the deterioration of mental health overlooked by the need to maintain the guise of perfection. The social disadvantages of this intersection include a myriad of traumas such as financial stability, violence and oppression, and the internal stigma of judgment, which causes Black men and Women to delay or go undiagnosed for mental health disorders. In turn, this enables an unstable community to unite for mental health reform. Aside from seeking medical help, the conversation of mental …

The Sacred Forest And The Mythical Python: Ecology, Conservation, And Sustainability In Kom, Cameroon, C. 1700-2000, Walter Gam Nkwi Dr

Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective

Scholars have taken a keen interest in the social and cultural meanings of the African landscape in the reconstruction of the continent’s history (Giblin, 1992; Spear, 1997; Wagner, 1995). But how much did Africans know of their environmental past? This article explores the indigenous history of ecology, focusing on the medicinal forest (ak’u mii-fii) and the mythical python (iigw-im) and their link with livelihood and sustainability in Kom, Cameroon. The paper argues that the Kom people have always been conserving their forests since the pre-colonial era. During the colonial period and especially in the 1930s many hectares of land including …

The Universality Of Traditional Tales Of The Portuguese Speaking Countries, M.Margarida Pereira-Müller 177152

Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective

Throughout the ages, the traditional tale has been the vehicle used for transmitting the culture from generation to generation - the memory of a community. Since the beginning of mankind there have always been tales in all countries and in all cultures of the world. Many of the traditional stories we think are Portuguese or European are to be found as well in other parts of the world, told in a very similar way. Sometimes the only difference is the physical frame: the landscape, the flora and the fauna, how people dress or eat.

Most of these tales have animals …

Peacebuilding In The Context Of Displacement: Women’S Groups In Internally Displaced Persons (Idps) Settlements In Kenya, Catherine A. Odera

Doctor of International Conflict Management Dissertations

Abstract

Following the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya, 650,000 people, comprising men, women, youth, and children, fled their communities, and found refuge in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. Although the Kenyan Government resettled some of the IDPs later in eco-villages and inner city settlements, seven years later there were still 309,200 in IDPs camps across the country. The objective of this qualitative multi-sited single case study is to explore the role of women’s groups in peacebuilding efforts following the post-election conflict. The study focuses on four grassroots-level local women’s groups in the Bankala and Mambira eco-villages and an inner-city settlement …

Ebusua Fie, Dahlia Roberts Nduom

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the Fanti of Ghana.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

Growing up in the Caribbean and currently living in Ghana, I‘ve been interested in the conversation surrounding the development and definition of both a Caribbean‘ style and African‘ style and the cultural, social, political and historical issues that surround this. The competition seemed like a perfect avenue to continue to investigate these interests.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

Trying to study and investigate the traditional …

Sakhile, Nicole Nomsa Moyo

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the culture of the Ndebele and Zulu of South Africa.

Why do you believe African homeowners will be interested in building a home such as the one you have submitted today?

Homeownership and identity are strongly linked. The Sakhile house design embraces and celebrates the present and the past. It is affordable and gives opportunity for growth. The house provides functions that make it sustainable and requires a minimal cost to maintain as the architecture serves and provides from the environment to the family. The house gives the owner independence as the walls act as a …

The Mudina, Kseniya Mamaeva

ATL

Honorable Mention

Symbiosis of African traditional design and modern technology.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

I am a student, and so for me it was the opportunity to experiment. The process of creating this project was part of my training. I was interested in exploring the culture of African countries and the peoples of Africa, the nature Africa.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

The most difficult part in the development of my prototype was to create home elements, …

Umoja, Mark Gomina

ATL

Honorable Mention

Promoting a synthesis of African design.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

It was challenging sorting out the so many research materials gathered from diverse sources, yet it was most interesting and fulfilling to find they all corroborated Umoja‘s values of unity, proportion and functionality.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

I was inspired by CPDI‘s laudable initiative towards the development of sustainable/successful African Neighborhoods and communities coupled with my passion for promoting African indigenous Art and Architecture …

The Mask, Marina Ryleeva

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the symbolism of the African Mask.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

The ancient culture of the ethnic groups of Africa. Bright stylized art. Nature. People and indigenous cultures. African masks.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

Tracing the history of tribal masks, hard to find good material. Implementing the idea to style.

Why do you believe African homeowners will be interested in building a home such as the one you have submitted today?

I think …

Jali, Miracle David-Adjah, Bismark Achodo

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the music of Africa.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

We are interested in creating an African built environment that will intrigue and attract the world at large.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

It was interesting to find out that Africans are deeply connected. In search of land, indigenous people migrated and exchanged aspects of culture. One challenge was that African cultural heritage is not extensively documented. And although we as Africans can get information …

The Gojo, Kalkidan Tesfaye, Filimon Teshome, Hundaol Girma

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the Sidama of Ethiopia.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

We believe that Africa is the most diverse continent in the world, and with all the different cultures, architecture can be practiced with much more creative expression than the rest of the world.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

African spaces are the reflection of nature, and so it was interesting to design something that is in a direct connection with nature.

Why do you believe …

Amai, Gratio Ray, Kevin Yamaputra, Cynthia Javanny

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the people and culture of Zimbabwe.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

We are interested to involving ourselves to design prototype of modern architecture of Africa by research on the cultural and philosophical approach.

Why do you believe African home-owners will be interested in building a home such as the one you have submitted today?

We offer a compact living with a flexible space to hold a social activities and emphasizing a sustainability system in water usage.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during …

Noktecture, Ojile Ameh Godswill

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the Nok terracotta.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

I am of the opinion that original African culture has not been fully portrayed especially in our Architecture, at least that is the reason we still run helter-skelter using / adopting Roman classical forms of cornices (concrete fascia), entablatures in a bit to coining ours. I believe if we could only make move to look inwards; there is richness in African originality that if harnessed would yield unfathomable impact. CPDI Africa is a platform we have craved …

The Mena, Julia Mauser, Girum Solomon, Minasie Terefe

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the art of the Konso people of Ethiopia.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

Our Africa is a continent with unparalleled cultural richness and stories to be told. However, what we are witnessing today is only the smallest fraction of the vast potential we have got. So much resource just sitting by, time moving fast and we seem to be stuck in the present while the whole world speeding pass by us. Instead of laying back and complaining we took it upon ourselves to do something …

Desert Wave, Omelchenko Alisa, Ksenia Bilyk

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the vernacular architecture of Northern Nigeria.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

The most unexpected thing was the huge variety of African architectural typology and forms. Just like any other culture typical for certain area it has its recognizable features, but having examined it deeply we cognized its diversity.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

We have always been captivated by Africa’s ancient history and its authentic design, multifaceted culture and the ability to observe it …

Northern Pafta, Gebrekidan G. Debre

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the culture of the Konso people of Ethiopia.

What inspired you to enter this competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

For the past three years I was working on research called Ethioplugin Add-on Library at my campus (EiABC). There the objective, was digitalizing the heritages of Ethiopia such as furniture and fixtures, patterns and textures, construction details, so that they will be accessible by the professionals like interior designers, architects electronically. This made me familiar with working on cultural elements and extracting designed product out of them. I was excited (about the competition) …

Shebaxumite, Liuel Hizikias Ketema

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the Axumite people of Ethiopia.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

The evolution of African architecture has almost come to a standstill due to western influence. The potential of construction materials used in African designs have a far greater utility in their specific climates or natural conditions as opposed to western materials. It‘s easy to say my inspiration came from my deep passion to explore the potential of African construction materials for what they are truly worth.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during …

Tata, Tan Boon Chiou

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the vernacular architecture of the Benin people.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

The culturally rich and diverse nature of the African continent has always fascinated me. The long history of construction skills and know-how displayed by different ethnic groups that reflect the harmonious symphony with the various landscapes and terrains have and would continue to exert the potentials to inspire the architecture of the next generations. For example, the use of fractal geometries, which is native to various tribes of the continent, serves an important …

K'Jong, Nakimuli Thatcher, Lawrence Okoth, Brian Murungi

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the Karamojong people of Northern Uganda.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

Studio Manyatta was created with this very vision in mind. As a team of young designers from various design disciplines, and inspired by the Karamojong one of Africa's most intriguing cultures, we set out to explore what kind of environments Africa would have created with minimal influence from the colonization era. This competition was a chance to carry out his goal on a larger platform.

Why do you believe African homeowners will be interested …

The Ije, Izuchukwu M. Amadi

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the pyramids of Egypt.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

The need to promote and create an indigenous African architectural language using our local materials, methods and also to express the rich heritage of the African people both in design and life style.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

The most challenging point of my research was how to use recycled pet bottle for the facade cladding in another innovative way, having used it for my …

Afar Sidama, Amanuale Brook

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the Afar and Sidama people of Ethiopia.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

I am interested in vernacular African architecture especially from my home region, Eastern Africa. Its obvious Vernacular architecture is dear to me. How the people have evolved from historical and diverse socio-cultural, climatic conditions and civilizations. Our built environment is a good way to appreciate our progress.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

My research into how people survive in the most uninhabitable …

Assita, Jun Yanagimuro, Hayashi Yoichiro, Ignacio Darras

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the culture of the Burkina Faso.

Why do you believe African homeowners will be interested in building a home such as the one you have submitted today?

In our design, as mentioned before, we focused in one main aspect: giving new perspectives around their existing ways of constructing. We believe to have got in contact with very main aspects of their construction that needed a change and many others that didn´t so, at least for now, we gave priority to the ones we think they should be changed/improved for a better quality of living, of their …

The Irele, Adeyemi Akande

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the art and architecture of the Yoruba and Hamer people.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

I have been tremendously overtaken by the desire to explore a modern cultural identity and outlook for contemporary Africa. A visual identity that MUST stem out of the continent‘s deepest philosophy and interpretation of self. So to find the CPDI competition was a perfect platform for me to finally begin to articulate all the ideas I have been brewing for some time. The CPDI‘s ideology perfectly mirrored my most profound …

Cetiana, Nahom Bekele

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the people and nations of Ethiopia.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

This competition is a chance for young Africans to build their own future, I for that matter was highly inspired to set my footprint on the history of Africa to be made!

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

The biggest challenge was the availability of accurately recorded historic data. It made the research more intensive

Why do you believe African homeowners will be interested …

Fusion Point, Zuhra Zuhair

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by African cultural identity and modern convenience.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

Architecture in Africa today is a receding echo of our heritage. Africa's history and culture is rich and diverse, yet we often live in environments with imported architecture that don't reflect Africa's heritage and our identities. Architecture is the creation of spaces subjective to context, identity and the basics of life. Through architectural design that considers Africa's cultural context, history and materiality, a comprehensive, thoughtful and sustainable architecture can be developed for Africa.

What …

The Omo, Roman Gorshkov

ATL

Honorable Mention

Inspired by the Omo River in Ethiopia.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

A unique opportunity to celebrate people of Africa and their culture by providing a beautiful design of their future home.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

The most challenging aspect of this project, but also one of the most fascinating things was the vast diversity of different cultures and ways people live in Africa that makes it hard to design but provides an ocean of …

Tata Fu, Seni Dara

ATL

3rd Prize Winner

Inspired by the cultures of Togo and Benin, West Africa.

What inspired you to enter this special competition to create a modern architectural language for Africa?

I participated in this competition because I am a young architect trained in Africa and who has always been lead to think about the traditional African architecture. The development of local architecture has always been a major concern in my training and my career.

What did you find most interesting or challenging during the research and development of your prototype?

The most interesting was certainly the search for elements of character, …