The next generation of African architects and designers | Christian Benimana

Christian Benimana wants to build a network of architects who can help Africa's booming cities flourish in sustainable, equitable ways -- balancing growth with values that are uniquely African. From Nigeria to Burkina Faso and beyond, he shares examples of architecture bringing communities together. A pan-African movement of architects, designers and engineers on the continent and in diaspora are learning from and inspiring each other, and Benimana invites us to imagine future African cities as the most resilient, socially inclusive places on earth.

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[chigasaki]

African designers/architects are definitely needed. Many buildings constructed in various African countries are basically replicas of the West, which are not functional/efficient for the African landscape. They don't take advantage of uniquely African materials and designs that are harmonious with the environment.

[AbdallahBotan]

Africa is the future, but this time it will be led by Africans.
CB From Somalia

[osemudiame]

Working on becoming an African electrical engineer. Once I’m done studying in Scotland I’ll be heading back to Africa. There I’ll try to make a difference.

[meepchiche]

Africa finding its own identity is an amazing time to live in.

[Wolfblaz]

All memes aside, he's brilliant. More innovators are what Africa needs.

[francisorih]

how much i love people with good education both technically and morally!

[Josh-shsq]

As a student in high school in Africa, Christian inspires young potential architects like me.
Preach brother preach.

[aodhanofailain]

Mr Benimana’s insightful talk raises several issues that are critical to the future of humanity and our planet.

For me, it’s not so much a case of Africa and China ought not to be following Western building models and values, rather that the West ought not to be following Western building models and values, indeed, no one should be following current Western building models and values.

We need carbon-free, nature-friendly, highly localised, community-based, sustainable, and resilient architecture, and we need it in a hurry. Mr Benimana is right; African architects are leading the world in this regard, but the rest of us need to follow their inspiration as a matter of urgency.

[gaolatlhe]

Africa needs to embrace it's identity and diversity be it food, culture or architecture. We have a lot to offer

[Raziffalyan]

This is exactly what I always wanted for the world's cities, so that different cities in the world has its own distinct features. You can always know whether you're in Paris or Firenze or London or Oslo or Bali.. because they have their own distinct architectural style used in many buildings.
I don't quite agree with what Bandung's governor (who's also an architect) Ridwan Kamil said about modern architecture (you can see it on Ted Talk too)
I think it's essential to make cities' architecture distinct and unique from one another. It adds up to the experience visiting it.

[zephaniarutlokwana]

Go African youth Go. Show the world that you have come a long way and you are here to be reckoned. Make your parents and ancestry proud of you

[keelan]

Reading through these comments is so sad. It was an inspiring speech, and those designs are honestly so cool.

[Ceci-dbkh]

You guys are already globally inspiring, my guy, I'm saying this as a brazilian architecture student who's already a fan of what you guys are doing there. Keep it up!

[Spiritman]

You have made me a much proud Ugandan architecture I have a saying that " ONE CANT KNOW WHERE HE IS GOING IF HE CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE HE CAME FROM". So, for all African Architects to know where they are heading to, they ought to know where they came from. GOD BLESS YOU BRO FRO THAT MESSEGE.

[manlynash]

I am ever so grateful for finding this video.
Thank you Christian for the expose.
Trust me a door has now opened for me to go back to Mother Africa to start and indeed fund a whole housing project with 100% input from my own kind.
HalleluYah, HalleluYah, HalleluYah.

[alexgarcia]

This kind of architects are the future, they have amazing ideas.

[hurricanefierce]

This.... I have no words. Amazing video, amazing people, amazing continent.

[tobangafeufeu]

Best of luck to everyone working on this

[JeanLouis]

Dear Architect Christian Benimana. I'm proud of you, I'm excited how clearly your message is traveling. I wish you the best on your journey. I'm challenging you to connect with your Brothers & Sisters from the Trade in Africa and network, network, network. You studied in China, you can mentor many others on that journey.. Blessings. J-L L. K

[jemts]

Yes! I loved this talk! I hope to see more Africans and people from the African diaspora heading back to contribute to developments like these. It's exciting to think what could grow here! :)