Title & Author:

Architects of liberation : modernism in western Africa / Martino Stierli, Ikem Stanley Okoye, with Mallory Cohen ; portfolio by François-Xavier Gbré ; contributions by Adekunle Adeyemo, Guillermo S. Arsuaga, Sabrine Bako, Antawan I. Byrd, Brunno Douat, Johan Lagae, Sonia Lawson, Ayala Levin, Prita Meier, Monika Motylińska, Marcos García Mouronte, Łukasz Stanek, Studio NEiDA, Y. L. Lucy Wang.

Publication:

New York : The Museum of Modern Art, [2026]
New York, NY : ARTBOOK, D.A.P.
©2026

Description:

219 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), maps, plans ; 32 cm

Notes:
Published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, July 5, 2026-January 2, 2027.
Includes bibliographical references.
Director's Foreword / Christophe Cherix -- Introduction / Martino Stierli -- Adoption versus Adaptation: Africanization in Modern Architecture / Martino Stierli -- Pan-African Architecture and Possible Black Futures: Western African Modernism and the World / Ikem Stanley Okoye -- Portfolio / photographs by François-Xavier Gbré -- Perspectives. Economic Powerhouses in the Lagoon: The Bridges and Skyscrapers of Abidjan and Lagos / Johan Lagae and Monika Motylińska -- Monuments of Sovereignty? Postcolonial Mega-Projects and the Limits of Liberation / Prita Meier -- Postcoloniality, Nation-Building, and Experimentation: Universities and Western African Modernism / Adekunle Adeyemo -- Hôtel Ivoire and the African Riviera: Tourism Architecture as Vehicle for Development in the Independence Era / Ayala Levin -- Housing Research in Ghana and Nigeria / Łukasz Stanek -- Model Citizens: Architecture and Print Media in Western Africa at Midcentury / Antawan I. Byrd -- Heritage Preservation in Togo and Beyond: A Conversation with Sonia Lawson, Studio NEiDA, and Sabrine Bako -- Focal Points. Centre International du Commerce Extérieur du Sénégal / Martino Stierli -- Musée des Civilisations Noires / Marcos García Mouronte -- Cheikh Ngom / Ikem Stanley Okoye -- La Pyramide / Mallory Cohen -- Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny / Mallory Cohen -- Jean Léon / Mallory Cohen -- Henri Chomette / Martino Stierli -- Hôtel de la Paix / Marcos Garcia Mouronte -- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology / Guillermo S. Arsuaga -- Ghana International Trade Fair / Ikem Stanley Okoye -- Bolgatanga Regional Library / Mallory Cohen -- University of Ife / Y. L. Lucy Wang -- Alan Vaughan-Richards / Brunno Douat.

Summary:

"Beginning in the late-1950s and continuing through the early 1980s, the independence period in Africa was a prolific time of architectural production during which leaders of newly independent nations sought to redefine themselves and their countries in contrast to colonial rule. Focusing on seven West African nations--Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo--Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa sheds light on shared issues and concerns as architects sought to adapt, adopt, or reinvent the idiom of modernism for their specific cultural, political, economic purposes. Featuring nearly 200 images, including architectural drawings, models, and archival photographs, as well as a newly commissioned photographic portfolio by François-Xavier Gbré highlighting the ... works of architecture produced during the independence period, this ... publication is the result of four years of extensive research in the region. Through thematic essays and anchor projects that serve as entry points into categories such as cityscapes, education, and housing, the publication illuminates a crucial, under-examined period of African history at mid-century"-- Provided by publisher.

ISBN:

1633451852
9781633451858 (hardcover)

Subject:

Modern movement (Architecture) Africa, West Exhibitions.
Cities and towns Africa History.
Urbanization Africa History.
Modern movement (Architecture) Developing countries.
Architecture Africa, West Exhibitions.
Architecture, Modern.
Architecture Africa, West.
Villes Afrique Histoire.
Architecture Afrique occidentale.
Mouvement moderne (Architecture) Afrique occidentale Expositions.
Architecture Afrique occidentale Expositions.
Architecture
Cities and towns
Modern movement (Architecture)
Urbanization
Benin History.
Nigeria History.
Cameroon History.
Côte d'Ivoire History.
Ghana History.
Senegal History.
Togo History.
Bénin Histoire.
Nigeria Histoire.
Cameroun Histoire.
Côte-d'Ivoire Histoire.
Ghāna Histoire.
Sénégal Histoire.
Togo Histoire.
Africa
Benin
Cameroon
Côte d'Ivoire
Developing countries
Ghana
Nigeria
Senegal
Togo
West Africa

Form/genre:

exhibition catalogs.
History
Exhibition catalogs.
Catalogues d'exposition.

Added entries:

Stierli, Martino, 1974- editor.
Okoye, Ikem Stanley, editor.
Cohen, Mallory, editor.
Gbré, François-Xavier, 1978- contributor, photographer.
Adeyemo, Adekunle, contributor.
Sánchez Arsuaga, Guillermo, contributor.
Bako, Sabrine, contributor, interviewee.
Byrd, Antawan I., contributor.
Douat, Brunno, contributor.
Lagae, Johan, contributor.
Lawson, Sonia (Cultural director and curator), contributor, interviewee.
Levin, Ayala, 1979- contributor.
Meier, Prita, contributor.
Motylińska, Monika, 1986- contributor.
Mouronte, Marcos García, contributor.
Stanek, Łukasz, contributor.
Wang, Y. L. Lucy, contributor.
Autran-Edorh, Jeanne, contributor, interviewee.
Büchele, Fabiola, contributor, interviewee.
Studio NEiDA, contributor, interviewee.
Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.)

Holdings:

Location: Library study room new acquisitions 325664
Call No.: 325664
Copy: 1
Status: External loan