Considering the immense diversity of sub-Saharan Africa’s architecture and built realities, does it make sense to speak of an African architecture? How does this differ from archi tecture in Africa? What does the term architecture actually mean in the African context? And how could these questions be conceptualised while leaving behind pre-existing theoretical moulds and biases?

Searching for new ways to theorise sub-Saharan African architecture, this collection of 49 essays broadens and develops the discourse around the architecture of a very rapidly changing continent. Its authors - practising archi tects and renowned scholars - put forward an array of heterogeneous perspectives, question old tropes and emerg ing narratives, and challenge popular concepts whilst pro pos ing new ones. All with the aim of critically examining and advancing theoretical reflection on African archi tec tures, both on the continent and globally.