Kevin Lath · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
MoMA Reads West African Modernism through the History of Independence

Kevin Lath · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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MoMA Reads West African Modernism through the History of Independence

Spanning seven countries, the exhibition examines independence-era architecture through approximately 450 objects.

Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa at MoMA examines modern architecture from the late 1950s through the early 1980s alongside the region’s political independence movements. On view from July 5, 2026, through January 2, 2027, it focuses on Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.nnAbout 450 drawings, models, and archival photographs come from more than 50 lenders in 17 countries. Resulting from four years of research, the project highlights the contributions of the first generation of trained African architects through projects in education, housing, and city planning.

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