Architecture and Politics in Africa, Making; living and imagining identities through buildings

Author

Gibert; Marie ; Mulugeta; Daniel ; Tomkinson; Joanne ; Addo; Irene Appeaning ; Patel; Yusuf ; Manful; Kuukuwa ; Ncube; Innocent Batsani ; Ofori-Sarpong; Emmanuel K. ; Routley; Laura ; Yekoyesew; Dawit ; Gallagher; Julia ; Yeboah; Tony

Year

2022

Publisher

Boydell & Brewer

Language

English

Pages

Link

Last Update

15-Apr-2026

Keywords

Public Policy & Administration ; Urban Studies ; Architecture & Architectural History ; History ; African Studies

Description

In 2019, to considerable global fanfare, the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, opened the former palace of Emperor Menelik II to the public for the first time. Located in the heart of the capital, Addis Ababa, with sweeping views across the city, the buildings – used by successive Ethiopian regimes since the late nineteenth century – represent some of the most significant centres of political power in recent Ethiopian history. Breaking with centuries’ old traditions of secluding state buildings from popular view, the buildings now lie in a vast public complex called Unity Park alongside examples of indigenous architecturse from...