The founder and director of the Community Planning and Design Initiative Africa (CPDI), Ms Nmadili Okwumabua, has emphasised the crucial role of Afrocentric architecture in addressing the urgent challenge of global warming.
She disclosed the importance of designing and constructing homes that reflect and honour African ancestral heritage, advocating for a return to traditional architectural practices that harmonize with the local environment.
Nmadili made this known yesterday at the CPDI 10th anniversary and screening of a documentary film, “The Making of CPDI Africa: 10 years of Afrocentric Architecture”, in Mandela House, African University of Science & Technology Campus, Abuja.
She urged the government to thoughtfully implement policies that integrate architectural styles reflecting Nigeria’s diverse cultures, including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and others, into the educational curriculum.
Nmadili highlighted that, contrary to the misconception that Africans lack architectural skills, the continent boasts a rich tradition of creating buildings designed to naturally cool the body, showcasing unique and innovative approaches.
“Now the world, who told us that African architecture was primitive, is running to us to be taught how to maintain a green environment. Contemporary architects today in Nigeria and around Africa can utilise some of that science and technology and create architecture that tells our story, identity and spirituality rather than imported cultures and design,” she said.
One of the key speakers, chartered architect Oka Amogu, encouraged Nigerians to embrace their rich cultural authenticity and heritage.
He underscored the immense value of Nigerian heritage, urging attendees to recognize it as a source of pride rather than seeing it as inferior on a global scale.
Chiahemba Nor, the national public relations secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, emphasised the importance of hybridisation in enhancing Afrocentric architectural designs.
“Afrocentric ideas are now influencing some of the designs in the West because they have opened up to see the value in ours. We can also be open to seeing the values in other designs, whether they are coming from Brazil or Europe and all that,” he said.
