WHEN ARCHITECTS GATHERED – The Benue State Edition.

 

Recently, the agrarian state located in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, popularly referred to as “The Food Basket of the Nation” due to its prodigious production of food crops played host to different cadres of architects from all parts the country and other neighbouring countries including the Niger Republic. And no, it wasn’t a conference to discuss food security or any such related issue! This time it was the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) which held from the 22^nd – 27^th of November in Markurdi, the state capital of Benue State.  

RAMMED EARTH ROYALTY - Traditional Architecture of the Great Benin Kingdom

Sketch of Benin City by British Officer 1897.
Image credit: www.guardian.com

Come with me on a journey down memory lane! Around 2002/2003, in post-graduate architecture school at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma - Edo State, our class was split into teams for an assignment on traditional architecture. I and my teammate (who just happens to be my life partner and husband- insert a coy smile😀) were tasked with the documentation and production of measured drawings for a building constructed with traditional building materials and techniques.

SERENDIPITY

Also defined as the the occurrence of unplanned fortunate discovery, serendipity is a fairly normal occurrence in the creative world.  Here's an account of one of mine. 

Window seats are my default position when travelling solo by air or land. In the vehicle, I love to see the buildings and greenery zipping past. The rooftops that come into view on the plane's ascent or descent fills me with such joy.

Chioma Wogu-Ogbonna: COVID-19 AND OTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASES: FUTURE DESIGN TRENDS IN THE NIGERIAN AEC INDUSTRY

Chioma Wogu-Ogbonna FNIA writes in from Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Also a qualified estate surveyor, she is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects where she currently serves a second term as its National Chair, Public Relations Committee.

In this blog's inaugural guest post, she shares her thoughts on a broad spectrum of changes one can expect in the Nigerian built environment industry post Covid-19.

Photocredit: Author

The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 was devastating leaving in its trails millions of death and a severely depressed economy worldwide. 102 years after that bad experience is the corona virus (code named COVID – 19) pandemic, presently ravaging lives and economies the world over with Nigeria’s first index case reported on 27^th of February 2020.

According to medical researchers, contamination has been ascribed to bodily contact with infected persons (symptomatic or asymptomatic) as well as the touching of infected surfaces which includes money.

Architecture Beyond Borders - Life Pre Covid - 19

In November 2019, the NIA Abuja Chapter played host to the duo of William Bates (2019 President of the American Institute of Architects AIA) and Sam Oboh,(2015 President of Royal Architectural Institute of Canada RAIC). An interesting incident transpired during the auspicious occasion of their visit.

WELCOME TO 2020!

As I thought of a befitting New Year message, the words of a popular yet deep Irish prayer/blessing came to mind. This is my paraphrased version.

"May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And rains fall soft upon your fields
...May God hold us in the palm of His hand in this year & beyond.Amen".

I bid you all a heartfelt welcome to 2020, the start of a new decade. Strap on your seat-belts, it promises to be an exciting and memorable ride.😍😍

Happy New Year! 

Photocredit: Google Images

THE NEXUS BETWEEN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM BENIN CITY AND THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM

“I hope there’s nothing wrong” she asked in concern from the other end of the line.

“Should there be?” I enquired in half bemusement as I silently pleaded with the female guide with my eyes for patience. 

Continuing, I responded, “Everything’s fine. I just decided it was high time I visited because it’s something I’ve been wanting to do”.

My sister let out a chuckle from the other end of the phone and went on to explain, 

“This one wey you dey visit there na im make me ask because I know say person no just dey wake up visit museum for Nigeria!”

Aha! Imagine that! A huge grin slowly enveloped my face as the realization of the cause of her question hit me.

“You know it’s the same thing I wondered” quipped the museum guide who must have gotten the gist of our conversation by the time I had exchanged pleasantries and hung up the phone. 

“Usually, most of our Nigerian visitors are those based outside the country, usually in the company of their children who are curious about their heritage”, she went on to add. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for belonging to what it seems is a league of extraordinary home-based Nigerians. (Insert smug face)!  

WORLD ARCHITECTURE DAY 2019

Architects are united in their excitement world wide today! It's our day- World Architecture Day. It was created by the Union International des Architects (UIA) or the International Union of Architects as it is more popularly known to further underscore the importance of architects, their leadership in the built environment industry and by extension also, their invaluable role in shaping the world we live, work and play in.

QUOTES CAPTURING THE TRUE ESSENCE OF ARCHITECTURE

Architecture is erroneously thought to concern only buildings but in its truest and purest sense, it is an experiential science that shapes the built environment. It has been posited that all human activity can be orchestrated by architecture and I tend to wholeheartedly concur
.
There are many quotes from architects the world over but here are a curated few that hit at the core of what the true value and meaning of architecture is to the larger society.

BENIN KINGDOM'S MOST SYMBOLIC TREASURE- The Queen Idia Mask

Idia Mask - British Museum
Source: Wikimedia

" Know whence you came, if you know from whence you came, there are absolute no limitations to where you can go"

This James Baldwin quote resonated deeply with me from when it was first encountered as it not only bolstered my pride in my rich Benin heritage, but it further strengthened an inner resolve to continually fan the embers of that heritage with special emphasis on its art and architecture. As children, we were deliberately exposed to various aspects of the Benin culture by our father in the form of related art and books. Till date, the Idia mask occupies pride of place in the living room of my childhood home.

There are so many aspects of the Benin heritage to celebrate notably its arts especially masterpieces such as the Benin bronzes and the Idia mask which has an interesting history surrounding its creation.

ARCHITECTURE AS A COUNTRY'S VERITABLE PR TOOL

Ghana Freedom Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennial

The seamless integration of architecture and art, soulmates as it were, ensured that Ghana’s entrance into the biggest event in the art world created a huge buzz. The Ghana Pavilion at their first outing at the Venice Biennial draws inspiration from the Gurunsi earth houses. The Gurunsi huts are renowned for their elaborate decorations with hand painted designs and murals. The Gurunsi tribe inhabit the northern region of Ghana as well the southern part of Burkina Faso. In Ghana, their estimated population is 976, 311 while in Burkina Faso, they are up to  1,000,0000.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of seventeen (17) global goals created by the United Nations in 2015 to mitigate the gaps and shortcomings of the MDGs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The goals which are a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, are interconnected with a target deadline of 2030

MUCH ADO ABOUT THE NIGERIAN KIT FOR RUSSIA 2018

Long after the outcome of the match on Sunday 15 July 2018 that determines the winner of the FIFA World Cup Final at the 80000 seater Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, fashion would be the one thing that would linger long in the minds of spectators and millions of football lovers the world over. What has fashion got to do with football you ask?  Well for the uninitiated, it's now official, fashion and football have officially become twins if the buzz about the official kits of some of the national teams is anything to go by, particularly that of Nigeria.  

MOTHER'S DAY 2018 - THE NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

So, the last of the Mother's Day celebrations for 2018 was observed on May 13, 2018 .Earlier in March, on the 11th to be precise, Mother's Day was celebrated in different parts of the world such as the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The general consensus is that there can never be too many celebrations to honour motherhood in all its ramifications.

The celebration of mother's Day was somewhat different here. How you ask? Well for one, I think we took the celebration and made it our 'own', injecting a healthy dose of Nigerian flavour to the world-wide celebrations. The result? The pride that comes from taking your narrative to the world. A leading Lagos based advertising agency SO & U whose blue-chip clientele includes Glo, Access Bank, Unilever, Indomie Noodles and Diageo came out with a viral Mother's Day campaign with a different perspective.

2018 TOP BUILT ENVIRONMENT DESIGN TRENDS IN NIGERIA

We are in the early stages of the year with most of our sights firmly set on ‘smashing’ those New Year goals (as if the goals dey follow us fight sef). While on the goal smashing quest, here are some top design trends in the Nigerian built environment to watch out for in the course of the year.

NIGERIAN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, DESIGN AND THE REST OF US

A private school in Nigeria

“I no blame dem”, I muttered under my breath in annoyance. “Wetin concern me with dem before?" I asked no one in particular as I gunned the engine of the car and zoomed off to my next destination. I was at my wits end. “Who be the ‘dem" you ask?  Well, ‘dem’ happened to be some private elementary schools visited in the course of my search for a suitable school for my ward, a search I had grossly underestimated. Going by their signboards, there is an ‘international’ private school in every neighbourhood; in fact my residence is situated adjacent to one.

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS - MY 'EUREKA' STORY!

Once again, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”! I simply cannot get enough of the dry harmattan air, the early morning and evening haze, the bustling energy seemingly at boiling point across the major markets and shopping malls as buyers and sellers rush to make last minute transactions.  Then there is the awesome food. Speaking of which, would any Christmas/ New Year’s Day menu be complete without the wonderful staple of jollof rice? Our mum certainly took no prisoners with her Yuletide jollof rice. Hers was simply the best, no contest! Add her equally delicious teeth sinking - lip smacking- finger licking fried fresh chicken, and the world to a young me then could not have been more perfect! So good was her jollof rice that you would find me happily scrapping away and eating the burnt ‘bottom pot’ portion of the rice even after a couple of days as though my life depended on it!

DONALD TRUMP AND WETIN NAIJA ARCHITECTS DEY DO SEF?!

1. President - elect Donald Trump and his opponent, Hilary Clinton during the first Presidential Debate

The highly anticipated election for the 45th President of the United States of America has finally been dispensed with. Phew! We no see or hear word that period! Preceded by a contentious, acrimonious and no holds barred contest, the emergence of Donald Trump as the President- elect over the preferred candidate, Hillary Clinton sent shock waves across the world. In Nigeria, we went to sleep with Hillary in an early lead but woke up on the 9^th of November 2016 with the unlikely and underrated Donald Trump getting the required number of Electoral College votes to win. What a red letter day!!

 

 

One of the many campaign policies of President-elect Trump was the commitment of at least $ 500 billion to infrastructural spending over a five year period. The spending is required to fix America’s ageing and decaying infrastructure – airports, schools, hospitals, bridges, and train stations. From all indications, American architects will be very busy!  It was against the backdrop of this campaign policy that the executives of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the umbrella body for registered architects in the United States, pledged its commitment to working with President-elect Trump in the strengthening of the nation’s ageing and decaying public infrastructure. The outrage and backlash from the architectural community was fierce and immediate forcing the AIA executives
to publicly apologize for what it termed “a hasty and tone deaf post – election message”.

HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS FROM YOUR UNMADE BED!!

'My Bed'

Hold it! Stop I said!! You may want to think twice before you make that bed of yours or tidy up your room! Yes you heard right. That unmade bed and untidy room can make you famous and make you very rich, and I am talking in millions of foreign currency here.  

You think I’m joking? Okay let's confirm from Tracey Emin, the British artist whose messy (dirty)bed/room installation sold for a record £ 2.5 million in 2015. The installation is currently on loan for public viewing for the next decade at the Tate Modern Museum, London.

BRT BUSES, AKARA, BRAZILIAN HAIR AND RIO 2016!!!

Team Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Photocredit: Getty Images

Firstly, belatedly though, let me join the teeming number of proud Nigerians in saluting our contingent to the Rio 2016 Paralympics where Team Nigeria with her stellar performance shone like a million stars with a formidable medal haul comprising of twelve medals.

Asides the 2016 Olympics and of course the ubiquitous Brazilian weaves (which we cannot get enough of); Brazil occupies a key position in West African history for both good and bad reasons. Brazil accounted for roughly forty percent of the African slaves brought to the Americas during the Atlantic slave trade with most of them processed at Bahia before being sent off to plantations across the country. Centuries after the slave trade, the Yoruba influence is still heavily felt in Bahia where their dialect is a blend of Portuguese and Yoruba. Deities such as Orunmila, Obatala, Ogun, Sango, Obatala, etcetera are also worshipped. Babalawos nko? Dem dey there too!! Even local delicacies are well represented, take for instance the utterly scrumptious fried bean cakes called ‘akara’ here, in Bahia, ask for acaraje instead!