It all began with a series of ‘what if’ questions: what if a new school of architecture suddenly emerged from a new and unexpected place? / what if Africa and the African Diaspora held the key to overcoming so many contemporary challenges of race, environmental justice, new forms of urbanism? / what if a new African school could teach the global North how to embed diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of built environment pedagogy? / what if a constellation of progressive global voices could find the space and freedom to pursue a truly transformative agenda?

The AFI is almost a year old now and has been cultivating the voices of architects and thinkers in it’s public lecture series.

Prof Lesley Lokko the founder of the African Futures Institute has been selected as the curator of the 2023 International Architectural Exhibition in Venice, the biggest, most prestigious arts and architectural event in the world. She is the first African to be curating this event. It’s a really big deal.

Documenta AV has been engaged over the past year producing the lecture series videos for the AFI.