Diébédo Francis Kéré: The first African to win architecture's top award

FRANCIS KÉRÉ
FRANCIS KÉRÉ

Burkino Faso-born architect, Diébédo Francis Kéré, has become the first African to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize, which is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture. His highly esteemed work, including permanent and temporary structures, has been erected in his country of birth, but also across Africa, Europe and the United States.

Mr Kéré, 56, was elated to receive what is considered architecture's most renowned award, describing himself as the "happiest man on the planet".

But his decades-long journey to the top of his field was far from straightforward, with limited opportunities in his village.

Editor's Comment
Boko should stop the fighting and start the delivering

With his theme of 'Delivering on Our Promise, One Step at a Time', he sought to project an image of a focused, determined leader building a new ‘Rome’. Sadly, parts of his speech were not about laying bricks, but about settling old scores.It is deeply worrying that a head of government would use such a pivotal national address to launch another bitter broadside against the media and his political detractors. His portrayal of the...

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