By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The hybridisation of indigenous African architectural traditions, technologies and local materials has been advocated alongside conventional ones to facilitate Africa’s development.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated this at a “CBAAC Annual Public Lecture” held at the main campus of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Samaru, Zaria.
The lecture was organised by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) in collaboration with ABU, Zaria.
The minister, who was represented by one of the Directors in the ministry, Ms Lizzy Iheziwe, said there is the need for Africans to look inward and gradually return to traditional technologies while combining with conventional values.
“With a very strong voice, I wish to advocate for a gradual return to traditional technologies and local materials within the conventional practices in Africa.
“This is more so because of the overwhelming call for proactive steps in managing the earth’s resources. It still behaves on architects of the continent to explore all the options available to be creative.
The minister, who was represented by one of the Directors in the ministry, Ms Lizzy Iheziwe, said there is the need for Africans to look inward and gradually return to traditional technologies while combining with conventional values.
“With a very strong voice, I wish to advocate for a gradual return to traditional technologies and local materials within the conventional practices in Africa.
“This is more so because of the overwhelming call for proactive steps in managing the earth’s resources. It still behaves on architects of the continent to explore all the options available to be creative.
The theme of the lecture is ” Deploring Indigenous Africa Architecture For Environmental Sustainability.”
He observed that the innovations were important because it would have evolved a methodology of of architecture that was supported on the traditions of African building custom.
Mohammed said it was necessary for African architects and experts to stick to such approach and adopt attitude and expertise on how to use materials and technologies that were indigenous.
In his addressed, the CBAAC Director-Generwl, Dr Ferdinand Anikwe lamented that the perception about African architectural culture and traditions was prix
Mohammed said it was necessary for African architects and experts to stick to such approach and adopt attitude and expertise on how to use materials and technologies that were indigenous.
In his addressed, the CBAAC Director-Generwl, Dr Ferdinand Anikwe lamented that the perception about African architectural culture and traditions was prix
According to him,some years ago that a leading American journal sent a team of photographers to Africa to document.
“Upon returning, their first comment was, ‘All we could find were a bunch of muds’. This reaction no doubt gives a vivid reflection of the overall perception and mental image some western and indeed Eurocentric scholars on African Architecture.
“In fact, they more often see African architecture as primitive as well as devoid of sacrality, meriting only the description of a technology and technique thereby denying the reality that Africans also produced monumental architecture during ancient times,” he said.
The D-G said the assertions were not only erroneous but also fallacious, recalling that there were many pointers to the sophistication of indigenous African Architecture right from ancient times.
Anikwe cited example of Egypt dynasties and their monumental architecture such as temples and the pyramid traditions and great walls of Timbuktu and many ancient building of Ethiopia.
He said there was every need for Africans to rediscover their culture and traditions mend such with others to be able to come up with something unique.
In his remarks, the ABU/Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Garba appreciated CBAAC for the programme and promised to sustain the collaboration for the good of the nation.
Garba, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Ezra Bako-Amans said the theme of the conference was not just timely but also apt.
“Upon returning, their first comment was, ‘All we could find were a bunch of muds’. This reaction no doubt gives a vivid reflection of the overall perception and mental image some western and indeed Eurocentric scholars on African Architecture.
“In fact, they more often see African architecture as primitive as well as devoid of sacrality, meriting only the description of a technology and technique thereby denying the reality that Africans also produced monumental architecture during ancient times,” he said.
The D-G said the assertions were not only erroneous but also fallacious, recalling that there were many pointers to the sophistication of indigenous African Architecture right from ancient times.
Anikwe cited example of Egypt dynasties and their monumental architecture such as temples and the pyramid traditions and great walls of Timbuktu and many ancient building of Ethiopia.
He said there was every need for Africans to rediscover their culture and traditions mend such with others to be able to come up with something unique.
In his remarks, the ABU/Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Garba appreciated CBAAC for the programme and promised to sustain the collaboration for the good of the nation.
Garba, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Ezra Bako-Amans said the theme of the conference was not just timely but also apt.
