Reimagining Future African Cities

datum: 14 October 2023
tijd: 2 p.m.– 3.45 p.m. (part 1 Building Beyond)
locatie: Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
toegang: €0 – €10

part one: Building Beyond Prescribed Futures

14:00 – 16:00 hr
The Building Beyond Programme hosts four different panel conversations with twelve artists and four mentors situated in the African context that will discuss the paradox between various cities’ present conditions and the ‘prescribed’ futurity of ‘the African city’. They will look at how the proposed future of the African city is fueled by unsustainable dynamics and offer alternative tools and methods, such as using vernacular as a technology, mapping resonances, and bringing to light spatial imaginations.

The four mentors who will each lead a panel discussion are: Nzinga B. Mboup (Senegal/Cameroon), Hicham Bouzid (Morocco), Ola Hassanain (Sudan/The Netherlands), and Khensani Jurczok-de Klerk (South Africa/Switzerland).

The panelists are: Ana Raquel Machava, Arafa C. Hamadi, Blqees Zuhair, Helen Zeru, Jepkorir Rose Kiptum, Mika’il, the Muezzin, neec nonso, Olufémi Hinson Yovo, Rania Atef, Sara Fahkry Ismail, Uzoma Orji, and Wezile Harmans.

This programme element is part of the Building Beyond programme of the Prince Claus Fund and the Creative Industries Fund NL, which invites creatives to reimagine the future of their African city by engaging with public space and community.

part II: Foundations for Future African Cities

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
African Architecture Matters (AAmatters) takes a critical look at mapping as methodology for inclusive urban development through a presentation by Iga Perzyna (director of AAmatters) reflecting on their project for Ng’ambo in Zanzibar and with their recent experiences garnered from Cairo as an introduction for a debate, this programme element focusses on why we map, how to map and methods to include inhabitants in sustainable and inclusive development processes. Followed by a conversation between her and Marie Morel who will moderate and lead the Q&A.

part III: Revisiting Lagos with Rem Koolhaas

6 p.m.-7.30 p.m.
More than 25 years after his first encounter with Lagos, architect Rem Koolhaas looks back on his groundbreaking research on the dynamism, frictions and possibilities of the Nigerian megacity. Taking extracts from his numerous visits, his work with students at Harvard for Project on the City, and the documentary Lagos: Wide and Close made with film director Bregtje van der Haak, Koolhaas shares his fascination with, and key learnings from, the city.

During the evening, a younger generation of creatives active from various countries of the African continent, including Kunlé Adeyemi (architect and founder of NLÉ), join Koolhaas to discuss concepts for the future. The conversation will be moderated by Aric Chen (general and artistic director of Nieuwe Instituut).

programme overview

14:00 – 16:00 hr: Part I: Building Beyond Prescribed Futures
16:00 – 17:00 hr: Part II: Foundations for Future African Cities
17:00 – 18:00 hr: Network drinks and Detour through Water Cities Rotterdam
18:00 – 19:30 hr: Part III: Revisiting Lagos with Rem Koolhaas
19:30 hr: Network drinks and Detour through Water Cities Rotterdam
22:00 hr: End of evening

You can select and choose which programme elements you wish to join via the ticket link above.

Water Cities Public Programme

For the exhibition Water Cities Rotterdam. By Kunlé Adeyemi, Nieuwe Instituut organises an extensive public programme with activities linked to themes explored in the exhibition and on the floating pavilions in the ponds around the institute, from Sunday morning yoga to documentaries, and from talk shows to live radio.