Nigerian Architecture Reimagined: Habitat Africa Invites Essays on the Past, Present and Future

From the sun-baked earthen walls of Kano’s ancient compounds to the soaring glass facades of Lagos’ Eko Atlantic skyline, Nigerian architecture tells a story of resilience, reinvention, and restless creativity. This year, Habitat Africa is inviting writers, architects, students, and thinkers across the continent to contribute to that story by submitting essays that examine the evolution of Nigerian architecture—past, present, and future.

Launched as a premium annual coffee-table book in 2018, Habitat Africa has become the continent’s most respected chronicle of ambitious architecture, real estate, and urban transformation. Now, in its ninth edition, the publication is opening a public call for original essays under the theme: “Nigerian Architecture: Roots, Branches, and New Leaves.” Submissions are open from September 1 to October 15, 2026, and will be judged by a panel of leading architects, historians, and cultural critics.

Whether you’re a practising architect reflecting on a landmark project, a student tracing the influence of colonial design, or a writer exploring how climate change is reshaping urban form, Habitat Africa wants to hear your perspective. The best essays will be published in the 2027 edition of the book and shared across the brand’s digital platforms, reaching an audience of architects, developers, policymakers, and design enthusiasts across Nigeria and beyond.

Why This Call Matters: Architecture as Cultural Memory

Architecture is more than bricks and mortar—it is the silent keeper of identity. In Nigeria, where over 250 ethnic groups speak more than 500 languages, built form has long been a vessel of tradition, power, and aspiration. The round mud houses of the Hausa, the bamboo and raffia structures of the Igbo, the coral-stone palaces of the Yoruba, and the rock-hewn churches of the Tiv all speak to distinct worldviews and environmental adaptations.

Yet, as Nigeria’s cities swell—Lagos is now home to over 15 million people, and Abuja’s population has tripled since 2010—the pressure to modernise has led to a rapid transformation of the built environment. High-rise apartments, gated estates, and international-style office towers now dominate skylines, often at the expense of traditional forms and local materials. In this context, documenting the evolution of Nigerian architecture is not just an aesthetic exercise; it’s an act of preservation and a call to reimagine what “modern” can mean in an African context.

Habitat Africa’s open call is a rare platform for public reflection on how architecture shapes—and is shaped by—Nigeria’s social, economic, and environmental realities. It invites contributors to ask: How does tradition inform innovation? Can sustainable design be both high-tech and rooted in local knowledge? What role should architects play in addressing housing shortages and climate resilience?

What the Judges Are Looking For: Themes That Resonate in 2026

The selection panel, led by architect and educator Prof. Kunle Adeyemi—founder of NLÉ and designer of the Makoko Floating School—has outlined several themes that align with current debates in Nigerian architecture:

From Earth to Sky: Materiality and Identity – Essays exploring the use of local materials (laterite, bamboo, palm kernel shells) in contemporary projects, and how these choices reflect cultural pride and environmental responsibility.
Colonial Shadows and Postcolonial Forms – Critical analyses of how British, Portuguese, and French architectural legacies continue to influence design, planning, and urban segregation in cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
Informal Cities: Designing for the Unplanned – Investigations into how informal settlements (like Ajegunle, Maroko, or Kibera-inspired areas) have developed their own architectural languages, and what formal design can learn from them.
Climate-Responsive Design in the Tropics – Case studies of buildings that use passive cooling, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy, especially in the face of increasing heatwaves and flooding.
The Digital Architect: AI, Parametric Design, and the Future of Practice – Explorations of how digital tools are democratising design, enabling young Nigerian architects to compete globally while staying rooted in local context.
Architecture of Aspiration: Who Builds Nigeria’s Future? – Essays on the role of developers, government policies, and community-led initiatives in shaping inclusive urban spaces.

Submissions can be analytical, narrative, or speculative. They can focus on a single building, a neighbourhood, a typology (like the family compound or the market), or a broader historical arc. The only requirement is originality and a deep engagement with the theme of evolution.

How to Submit: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

Submitting to Habitat Africa’s open call is designed to be accessible. Here’s how to participate:

Check Eligibility
- Open to Nigerian citizens and residents, as well as Africans living abroad who focus on Nigerian architecture.
- No age limit—students, professionals, and retirees are all encouraged.
- Multidisciplinary perspectives welcome: architects, historians, journalists, artists, anthropologists, and even builders with lived experience.
Prepare Your Essay
- Word count: 1,500–2,500 words (approximately 6–10 pages).
- Language: English or any of Nigeria’s major languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin), with an English translation provided.
- Format: PDF, with clear headings, citations, and images (up to 10 high-resolution images, with proper credits).
- Style: Academic rigour is valued, but readability is key—Habitat Africa reaches both professionals and general readers.
Submit Online
- Deadline: 11:59 p.m. WAT on 15 October 2026.
- Platform: www.habitafrica.com/call-for-essays (opens 1 September 2026).
- Fee: None. This is a public call to encourage diverse voices.
Selection and Announcement
- Shortlisted essays will be reviewed by mid-November 2026.
- Finalists will be notified by 30 November 2026.
- Published essays will appear in the Habitat Africa 2027 book and digital platforms in early 2027.

For those new to academic or long-form writing, Habitat Africa offers a free online workshop on 20 September 2026, titled “Writing About Architecture: From Idea to Essay.” Led by editor Bunmi Oloruntoba, the session will cover research, structure, and narrative techniques. Registration opens on 5 September via the Habitat Africa website.

Why Your Voice Matters in the Evolution of Nigerian Architecture

In a country where architecture is often dictated by developers chasing profit margins or governments prioritising speed over sustainability, public discourse is scarce. Yet, architecture is one of the most visible expressions of national identity. It shapes how we live, work, and dream. It can either reinforce inequality or foster inclusion. It can be a tool of erasure or a bridge between generations.

Consider the Nigerian National Theatre in Lagos—designed by architects from the former Yugoslavia and completed in 1976. Its brutalist form, with its sweeping concrete curves, was meant to symbolise modernity and unity. Today, it stands as both a landmark and a relic, a conversation starter about Nigeria’s post-independence ambitions and the challenges of maintaining public infrastructure. Essays that revisit such landmarks can help us understand how far we’ve come—and how much further we need to go.

Or take the rise of co-living spaces in Abuja and Lagos—purpose-built micro-apartments targeting young professionals. These designs respond to the housing crisis but often ignore local customs around privacy, family size, and communal living. A critical essay here could challenge developers to rethink their models.

Even the smallest structures tell a story. The mud-brick house in Zaria, with its intricate geometric patterns pressed into wet clay, is not just a home—it’s a textbook of geometry, thermodynamics, and cultural symbolism. Documenting these structures before they disappear is a race against time, as rapid urbanisation and climate change threaten traditional building techniques.

Habitat Africa’s open call is more than a competition—it’s an invitation to participate in the ongoing narrative of Nigerian space-making. Whether you’re documenting a disappearing tradition or imagining the skyscraper of tomorrow, your essay could shape how future generations see—and build—their world.

Inspiration from the Past: Key Moments in Nigerian Architectural History

To ground your essay, it helps to understand the milestones that have defined Nigerian architecture:

Pre-Colonial and Early Influences (before 1860)

Hausa City-States (Kano, Katsina, Zaria): Earthen walls, towering minarets, and courtyard houses designed for climate control and social hierarchy.
Yoruba Palaces (Ile-Ife, Oyo, Benin): Use of timber, thatch, and later coral stone; emphasis on open courtyards and symbolic gateways.
Igbo Compound (Umuahia, Nsukka): Clustered round huts with communal spaces, reflecting egalitarian values.
Fulani Tents and Borno Architecture: Portable designs for nomadic life, and monumental mud mosques like the one in Ngazargamu.

Colonial Era (1860–1960)

British Colonial Buildings: Neo-classical courthouses, bungalows with wide verandas, and grid-planned cities like Lagos Island and Kaduna.
Missionary Architecture: Churches with Gothic arches and stained glass, often built with local labour but European aesthetics.
Railway and Port Cities: Functionalist designs for warehouses and offices, often using corrugated iron and timber.

Post-Independence: The Search for Identity (1960–2000)

National Theatre, Lagos (1976): Brutalist design by J. A. Otegbola and Yugoslav team—symbol of cultural pride.
Nigerian Institute of Architects Headquarters, Lagos (1980): Early use of local materials in a modernist frame.
University Campuses (Ife, Zaria, Nsukka): Tropical modernism by architects like Demas Nwoko and Oluwole Olumuyiwa.
Low-Cost Housing Projects: Attempts at mass housing, often with mixed results due to poor maintenance and planning.

Contemporary Era (2000–Present)

Eko Atlantic City: A private city within Lagos, criticised for exclusivity but praised for engineering innovation.
Makoko Floating School (2013): NLÉ’s award-winning prototype for floating, climate-resilient architecture.
Lekki Free Zone and New Cities: Master-planned developments with international architectural firms.
Community-Led Projects: From the Ajibade Housing Cooperative in Ibadan to Freetown’s wooden housing initiatives, grassroots solutions are gaining attention.

These moments are not just historical footnotes—they are living debates. An essay that revisits the Makoko Floating School, for instance, could explore how it inspired a generation of architects to think beyond land ownership and toward water-based urbanism in delta regions.

Writing for Impact: How to Craft an Essay That Stands Out

Habitat Africa receives hundreds of submissions each year. To make yours memorable, consider these tips from past contributors and judges:

1. Start with a Strong Hook

Instead of opening with a dry definition of “architecture,” begin with a vivid scene:

“Every morning, Amina wakes to the smell of wet laterite and the sound of hammering on corrugated iron. She lives in a two-room flat in Surulere, where the ceiling fan battles the afternoon heat and the balcony doubles as a drying rack for plantains. This is not the Lagos she saw in Nollywood films—sleek, air-conditioned, futuristic—but the Lagos where 60% of residents actually live.”

This kind of narrative pull immediately grounds your essay in lived experience.

2. Use Local Language and Metaphors

Nigerian English is rich with architectural metaphors. Terms like “face-me-I-face-you,” “face-to-face,” “face-to-back,” and “compound house” describe not just building types but social structures. Including these terms—with brief explanations—adds authenticity and depth.

3. Balance Critique with Hope

Readers connect with essays that acknowledge problems but offer pathways forward. For example:

Instead of saying “Lagos lacks green spaces,” write: “In Lagos, every square metre of green is a battle between developers and community gardens. But initiatives like the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency show that change is possible—if we demand it.”

4. Include Visuals—But Use Them Wisely

Habitat Africa values strong imagery. If your essay focuses on a building or neighbourhood, include high-quality photos—but ensure they are properly credited. If you don’t have images, the organisers may assist in sourcing them for shortlisted entries.

5. End with a Provocation

Challenge your readers to see the built environment differently. For example:

“What if the next skyscraper in Lagos was made not of glass and steel, but of compressed earth blocks and bamboo? What if its design was co-created with the community it serves? That is not just a building—it is a manifesto.”

FAQ: Your Questions About the Habitat Africa Essay Call

What kind of essays are eligible?

Original, unpublished essays of 1,500–2,500 words that explore the evolution of Nigerian architecture in any form—historical, cultural, technical, or speculative. Essays can be in English or any Nigerian language, with an English translation provided.

Can I submit an essay about architecture outside Nigeria?

The call is focused on Nigerian architecture, but essays that draw comparative lessons from other African countries—such as Ghana’s adobe revival or South Africa’s township housing innovations—are welcome, provided the Nigerian context is central.

What happens if my essay is selected?

You will be notified by 30 November 2026. Your essay will be edited for clarity and style, then published in the Habitat Africa 2027 book and on the brand’s digital platforms. You will receive a contributor’s copy, a certificate, and an invitation to the book launch in Lagos in early 2027.

Is there a fee to submit?

No. Habitat Africa is committed to accessibility and does not charge submission or participation fees.

Can I submit more than one essay?

Yes. Each essay must be submitted separately, and each carries its own submission fee (which is free). However, the judges will only shortlist one entry per author for the final publication.

Who owns the rights to my essay if it’s published?

You retain copyright. Habitat Africa receives a non-exclusive license to publish your essay in the 2027 edition and related promotional materials. You are free to republish your work elsewhere after the book launch.

Beyond the Essay: How Habitat Africa Shapes the Conversation

Since its inception, Habitat Africa has played a pivotal role in elevating African architecture on the global stage. The 2025 edition featured an exclusive interview with Francis Kéré, the first African winner of the Pritzker Prize, discussing his work in Burkina Faso and how Nigerian architects can learn from his approach to community-led design.

The publication also launched the Habitat Africa Architectural Prize in 2024, honouring young Nigerian architects under 40. Past winners include Tosin Oshinowo, known for her work on the Ikorodu Senior Market and the Lekki Conservation Centre, which blends modernist lines with Yoruba aesthetic principles.

By opening this call for essays, Habitat Africa is not only curating a book—it’s fostering a movement. It’s saying to every Nigerian: your voice, your neighbourhood, your building, your dream of home—these are part of the story of Nigerian architecture. And that story is still being written.

How to Get Started: A 30-Day Writing Plan for Prospective Contributors

If you’re inspired but unsure where to begin, here’s a practical roadmap to help you craft a compelling essay in time for the 15 October deadline:

Week 1 (1–7 September): Research and Focus

Choose a specific angle: a building, a neighbourhood, a material, a movement, or a challenge (e.g., flooding, gentrification).
Conduct at least three interviews: talk to residents, architects, or local builders. Record their stories—these will be your primary sources.
Visit your chosen site if possible. Take photos, sketch details, note sounds and smells. Architecture is multisensory.
Write a one-paragraph proposal summarising your essay’s argument, sources, and originality. Share it with a friend for feedback.

Week 2 (8–14 September): Outline and First Draft

Structure your essay like a story: Introduction → Context → Key Moments → Analysis → Conclusion.
Write the introduction last—it should emerge from your draft, not constrain it.
Aim for 2,000 words. Don’t worry about perfection; focus on clarity and flow.
Include at least two quotes from interviews and one historical reference.

Week 3 (15–21 September): Deepen and Illustrate

Add images: sketches, old photographs, or your own photos. Label them properly.
Cite sources: use footnotes for facts, quotes, and data. Habitat Africa values academic rigour.
Read your draft aloud. Does it sound like a human voice? If not, revise.

Week 4 (22–28 September): Edit and Polish

Trim unnecessary jargon. Replace passive sentences with active ones.
Check for bias: avoid romanticising poverty or demonising modernity without nuance.
Get a second opinion: share with a mentor, colleague, or writing group.
Finalise your submission: convert to PDF, add a title page with your name, contact, and word count.

Week 5 (29 September–5 October): Final Checks and Submission

Proofread for typos and consistency.
Ensure all images are high-resolution (300 DPI) and credited.
Submit via the portal before 11:59 p.m. on 15 October.

A Call to Builders of Stories—and Buildings

Nigeria is a nation in motion. Every day, new structures rise. Every night, families return to homes that have stood for generations. Every storm tests the resilience of our roofs. Every festival fills our streets with colour and sound. These are not just scenes—they are chapters in a living architectural narrative.

Habitat Africa’s open call is an invitation to pause, reflect, and contribute to that narrative. It’s a chance to be part of the conversation that shapes how Nigeria—and Africa—builds its future.

You don’t need to be an architect to write about architecture. You just need curiosity, a story to tell, and a belief that the spaces we inhabit shape who we are.

So, if you’ve ever looked at a building and wondered about the hands that shaped it, the people who live within it, or the future it points toward—this is your moment. Submit your essay. Tell your story. Help write the next chapter of Nigerian architecture.

Deadline: 15 October 2026. The future is waiting to be built—one word at a time.

Read the original announcement on BellaNaija

Editor’s Notes

This article was researched and written in September 2026, with reference to Habitat Africa’s open call for essays on Nigerian architecture. All dates, themes, and submission guidelines are based on the organiser’s published information as of 1 September 2026. While we strive for accuracy, prospective contributors should verify details directly with the organisers at www.habitafrica.com/call-for-essays.

ByEditorial Team