Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Zambia, Ghana and Kenya are the five countries showcased in a curated exhibition of more than 80 buildings from Africa following Independence from colonial rule. <br /><br />In Senegal, the country's first president, Leopold Sedar Senghor put a large emphasis on the arts. The Foire Internationale de Dakar, or FIDAK, for instance, came about during this period. It was all about forming new political relationships believes curator Manuel Herz.<br />"They were looking to bring the world to Africa," he told CNN.<br /><br />
FIDAK (Dakar, Senegal) —
Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Zambia, Ghana and Kenya are the five countries showcased in a curated exhibition of more than 80 buildings from Africa following Independence from colonial rule.

In Senegal, the country's first president, Leopold Sedar Senghor put a large emphasis on the arts. The Foire Internationale de Dakar, or FIDAK, for instance, came about during this period. It was all about forming new political relationships believes curator Manuel Herz.
"They were looking to bring the world to Africa," he told CNN.
Iwan Baan
Its newly elected leaders wanted to assert their new-found freedom and national identity by deploying modernist styles commissioned from local architects but also old colonial ties. Others with more socialist ambitions turned to Eastern European architects from the likes of Yugoslavia and Hungary. Israel and the US were also sources for new thinking. <br /><br />The curator believes local architects were so few in the commissions due to the capabilities. "There was no possibility of studying architecture in Sub-Saharan Africa in the late 1950s and early 60s with the exception of apartheid South Africa, which was off limits."
Hotel Independence (Dakar, Senegal) —
Its newly elected leaders wanted to assert their new-found freedom and national identity by deploying modernist styles commissioned from local architects but also old colonial ties. Others with more socialist ambitions turned to Eastern European architects from the likes of Yugoslavia and Hungary. Israel and the US were also sources for new thinking.

The curator believes local architects were so few in the commissions due to the capabilities. "There was no possibility of studying architecture in Sub-Saharan Africa in the late 1950s and early 60s with the exception of apartheid South Africa, which was off limits."
Iwan Baan
But despite international designs, climate and resources meant buildings invariably ended up being shaped by local aesthetics. Designed by Italian architect Rinaldo Olivier, La Pyramide was celebrated as one of the Ivory Coast's most impressive structures at the time of its completion.<br />"Côte d'Ivoire, neighbor to Ghana was emphasizing commercial buildings, offices, and housing projects," notes Herz.<br />
La Pyramide (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) —
But despite international designs, climate and resources meant buildings invariably ended up being shaped by local aesthetics. Designed by Italian architect Rinaldo Olivier, La Pyramide was celebrated as one of the Ivory Coast's most impressive structures at the time of its completion.
"Côte d'Ivoire, neighbor to Ghana was emphasizing commercial buildings, offices, and housing projects," notes Herz.
Iwan Baan
The Hotel Ivoire was built in three stages between 1961 and 1970 at the behest of President Felix Houphouet-Boigny. Herz sees the building as "the alter-ego of the country."<br />Built to attract rich businessmen and well-heeled tourists, when the country experienced political upheaval in the late 1990s, it became a headquarters for the militia. In 2004, following mounting tensions with France, the hotel was the location where a disputed number of Ivorians were shot by the French army.
Hotel Ivoire (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) —
The Hotel Ivoire was built in three stages between 1961 and 1970 at the behest of President Felix Houphouet-Boigny. Herz sees the building as "the alter-ego of the country."
Built to attract rich businessmen and well-heeled tourists, when the country experienced political upheaval in the late 1990s, it became a headquarters for the militia. In 2004, following mounting tensions with France, the hotel was the location where a disputed number of Ivorians were shot by the French army.
Iwan Baan
When the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC for short) opened, it became a major international player in the world of finance. The IMF and World Bank hosted a conference at KICC, significantly elevating the status not just of the structure, but the newly independent country.
Kenyatta International Conference Center (Nairobi, Kenya) —
When the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC for short) opened, it became a major international player in the world of finance. The IMF and World Bank hosted a conference at KICC, significantly elevating the status not just of the structure, but the newly independent country.
Iwan Baan
It was commissioned by the country's first president, Jomo Kenyatta and at 32 storeys, was the tallest structure in east Africa at that point. The tower's original size nearly tripled in height as a result of the World Bank's decision to host its 1973 annual meeting in Nairobi. It was to be a building that would showcase Kenya internationally.<br /><br />Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik, had partly been because he hailed from a country without a dark colonial history in Africa.
Kenyatta International Conference Center (Nairobi, Kenya) —
It was commissioned by the country's first president, Jomo Kenyatta and at 32 storeys, was the tallest structure in east Africa at that point. The tower's original size nearly tripled in height as a result of the World Bank's decision to host its 1973 annual meeting in Nairobi. It was to be a building that would showcase Kenya internationally.

Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik, had partly been because he hailed from a country without a dark colonial history in Africa.
Iwan Baan
Completed one year after independence, the Mfantsipim School was actually commissioned in the preceding years. Ghana focused on building universities and schools across the whole country rather than devoting its attention exclusively to its capital Accra.
Mfantsipim School (Cape Coast, Ghana) —
Completed one year after independence, the Mfantsipim School was actually commissioned in the preceding years. Ghana focused on building universities and schools across the whole country rather than devoting its attention exclusively to its capital Accra.
Manuel Herz
Designed by the Public Works Department, Independence Arch was built to put Ghana on the world stage.
Independence Arch (Accra, Ghana) —
Designed by the Public Works Department, Independence Arch was built to put Ghana on the world stage.
Manuel Herz
For Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, education was a priority.<br />"We can use architecture to gain an understanding about how each country went through the process of decolonization, and did so very differently," believes Herz.
School of Engineering at KNUST (Kumasi, Ghana) —
For Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, education was a priority.
"We can use architecture to gain an understanding about how each country went through the process of decolonization, and did so very differently," believes Herz.
Alexia Webster
Just as the Hotel Ivoire became a symbol for the political realities of the Ivory Coast, the University of Zambia has proven a similar representation for Zambia's alliances. Zambia called on an Israeli construction company to build the university.
University of Zambia (Lusaka, Zambia) —
Just as the Hotel Ivoire became a symbol for the political realities of the Ivory Coast, the University of Zambia has proven a similar representation for Zambia's alliances. Zambia called on an Israeli construction company to build the university.
Iwan Baan
By the 1980s privatization kicks in and so too the idea of building exclusively for Africa's elites. "Public institutions stopped constructing," says Herz. "This led to a decline in building activity, and to a loss of a building culture and knowledge."<br /><br />Today, architects such as Kunle Adeyemi, Mokena Makeka and Francis Kéré are re-engaging Africa's public into the possibilities of mere concrete. <br /><br />Of the exhibition, "I am aware that there are many important gaps in the research. Nigeria, Tanzania, DRC or Cameroon, as just some examples, have amazing architecture, and need to be analyzed as well," adds Herz.<br />
'Architecture of Independence - African Modernism' exhibition —
By the 1980s privatization kicks in and so too the idea of building exclusively for Africa's elites. "Public institutions stopped constructing," says Herz. "This led to a decline in building activity, and to a loss of a building culture and knowledge."

Today, architects such as Kunle Adeyemi, Mokena Makeka and Francis Kéré are re-engaging Africa's public into the possibilities of mere concrete.

Of the exhibition, "I am aware that there are many important gaps in the research. Nigeria, Tanzania, DRC or Cameroon, as just some examples, have amazing architecture, and need to be analyzed as well," adds Herz.
Sam Lahoz