Musing on Architecture

Abstract

Nigeria’s independence ushered in an era of university creation. Four new universities were established by 1962- just two years after attaining self-rule. Twenty-five years later, they each commissioned and published a book that documented their histories. This article employs a textual analysis of these publications within the context of contemporary research on university architecture in 20th-century Nigeria. It examines these books as a historical source for tracing the universities’ architectural histories. It further explores the ways they documented their built environment through their accounts of academic development, institutional changes, and nation-building goals. Finally, it reflects on the relevance of their sources, narratives, and limitations in reimagining the architectural history of Nigeria’s first universities.

This article is published in the DOCOMOMO Journal Special issue titled ‘Shared Heritage Africa‘.

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