Away from Africa

The book  The African Dwelling - From Traditional to Western Style Homes (McFarland, 2019) is published, and available in many countries. It is the English-language version of the French-language book De la case à la villa (Riveneuve, 2014). However, it is not a replica: the book has been updated to reflect more current naming methodology, with some updated images, and includes an index. There are still about 200 images, in black and white. The foreword is by Jack Travis, FAIA. It is my hope that this book will be found in universities as well as personal libraries around the world, as a resource on the evolution of housing in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a repository for African terms that may not be easily found anymore. Below is a gallery of additional/color photographs. I'll continue posting color photographs as time goes on. Kain Tukuru home in Bonendalé, Cameroon, built 1953-1954 Entrance to a Bamiléké village, photo courtesy Amélie Essesse ...

An overview of the book's themes. 

Update: The following campaign is now over--thank you to our contributors!   “From the Hut to the Modern Home” is a discussion and analysis of the evolution of housing in  A frican architectur e  from traditional dwellings to the modern home . Indiegogo campaign:   http://igg.me/at/delacasealavilla  This book attempts to answer the African architect’s constant professional dilemma of adherence to the concept of “modern African” architecture, while recognizing that Africans no longer wish to live in traditional-style dwellings as their life style and housing needs continue to evolve. The direction taken by Epée Ellong, and Diane Chehab, is to follow traditional African architecture through time to today’s African architecture, to show the contradictions in the social and technical transformations through various historical phases. To accomplish this work, Epée Ellong delves into his own experience and knowledge of Central Africa . He traveled exte...

The following is paraphrased (ever so slightly) from the answers kindly provided by the IAS through Zinash Seyoum.   The Institute for African Studies of Columbia University (IAS) was founded in 1959 to serve as Columbia University's central forum and resource for African-centered academic research, program development, curriculum administration, student advisement, and local, national and international dialogue, as well as action on the region. There was not, as far we know, a specific scholar or administrator behind the founding of the institute. It was part of an institutional reaction to post-World War II, characterized by the rise of nationalism in the former colonial empire, the challenges of nation building, along with development, and the Cold War.An environment that called for a production of knowledge to serve government policies and foreign relations at bilateral and multilateral levels emerged. At the beginning of John F. Kennedy’s adm...

My curiosity was piqued when my colleague told me about his daughter,  Emily Silver, who  just returned to the United States from a  semester abroad in Ghana, Africa. She is 21 years old, and a double  major in Dance and Arts for Children, studying at The College at  Brockport  (NY State). She studied dance for most of her life, and now  hopes to channel her childhood passion into a  fulfilling adult career.  After meeting her (and after hearing about her from her proud father!), I asked to interview her for this blog, as she demonstrates much passion, not only for life and dance, but also about her time in Africa. Emily, what brought you to Africa?  During this pivotal time in my life, I have  done a lot of self reflection and come to recognize that my friends  are my world, I am interested in the less glamorous walks of life, I  enjoy finding hidden treasures and that I am a self proclaimed  extremist and w...

Genita Ingram greeting a guest My friend Genita Ingram, PR professional extraordinaire, invited me to a fundraiser for Project Enterprise on Tuesday, May 17, at Casa Frela, an art gallery in New York City, at 47 West 119th Street. It was a very nice event to raise funds for a nonprofit that provides entrepreneurs in under-served areas with loans ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The art at Casa Frela was a mix of pieces by contemporary African-American artists and traditional art and artifacts from the African continent, and the gallery is housed in a beautiful historical Harlem brownstone. I recognized several items from the Bamiléké area of Cameroon, as well as many Nigerian and Ethipian pieces. Soothing music was provided by a young Gambian Cora player, Malang Jobarteh. The gallery owner is Lawrence Rodriguez, himself the product of two cultures, Mexican and Native American. Contemporary art Amber beads in a wooden bowl Malang Jobarteh Playin...