This session looks at the influence of cultural heritage in our society and examines the role of cultural identity in how we view and interact with cultural aesthetics like art, music, architecture, food, and language

This session looks at the influence of cultural heritage in our society. The interactive session examines the role of cultural identity in how we view and interact with cultural aesthetics like art, music, architecture, food, and language. To explore ways that our intrinsic cultural values can shape the exponential growth African cities are experiencing to retain our originality and our sense of identity. The session will bring together architects, visual artists and social entrepreneurs to elaborate on the importance of infusing cultural heritage in our cities, now more than ever. Cultural Aesthetics + Urbanization will touch base on risks of urbanization to indigenous peoples which could potentially lead to marginalization, social discrimination, and displacement. We will explore measures that can be incorporated to minimize these risks, and the numerous ways adhering to heritage can pay tribute to indigenous people through conservation of knowledge, medical skills, local arts, languages, and natural resources, and so on.

Host: Surge Africa

Kano, Nigeria

Session Summary

The webinar hosted by Surge Africa Organisation explored the theme of Cultural Aesthetics and Urbanisation – how art, music, architecture, food, and language can drive Africa’s inclusive urbanisation.

Somalian Architect, Omar Degan leads a thought-provoking discussion around cultural identity and the generalised classification of “African Architecture” despite the richness of diversity, cultures, and climatic conditions across the continent. Instead of simply copying what is happening in the Western world he calls for African cities to use the innate knowledge, aesthetics, and art forms of their stories to, inform, and shape the built environment today. Degan makes a strong case for learning from vernacular architecture and unpacks its true relevance and functional as well as aesthetic value.

Eyal Assulin shares a selection of artworks that uncover and express different layers to his personal cultural identity. Relating once again back to the tools of language, symbols, and heritage to evolve and strengthen our understanding of self and society.