Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
Somali-Italian architect Omar Degan will lead Africa’s first-ever Pan-African Architecture Biennale, set to open in Nairobi on September 1, 2026. The event will gather architects, designers, and thinkers from across all 54 African countries, along with voices from the diaspora, under the theme “From Fragility to Resilience.”
Organizers say this will be the first major architectural platform created and run entirely by Africans, offering a space to rethink design as both a cultural and political tool. The event aims to highlight African architecture on its own terms, rather than through Western perspectives that often dominate the field.
For Degan, who has worked in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and Milan, the biennale is a response to the lack of recognition for African voices in architecture. “Architecture has always been white and male-dominated,” he said. “Africa is also the only continent that has been overlooked. Even when African architecture is celebrated, it is often exoticized—like safari lodges designed for the Western gaze. This time, every pavilion, from Somalia to Botswana, will have equal space.”
The biennale will be hosted at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), a 1970s-era landmark that has long symbolized Pan-African ambition. Nairobi was chosen not just for its central location and visa-friendly policies, but also to shift focus away from the usual cultural hubs of South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria. According to Degan, it was important to avoid defaulting to those countries and instead place the spotlight on a new geographic center.
The Architectural Association of Kenya has agreed to host the event, signaling its support for strengthening African-led design networks. For Degan, this moment reflects both a professional milestone and a personal journey. Born in Italy to Somali parents, he studied architecture in Turin before founding DO Architecture Group in 2017. His practice often focuses on fragile and post-conflict environments, and he has worked on projects such as maternity wards, community spaces, and refugee camps in Somalia.
“I’ve always seen architecture as more than just buildings—it’s about restoring dignity, one structure at a time,” he explained. One of his most recognized works is the Wave House in Hargeisa, completed in 2024. The house combines natural ventilation with traditional Somali motifs, showing how contemporary African design can merge sustainability with cultural heritage. Degan has also designed proposals such as a memorial in Mogadishu to honor the more than 500 victims of the October 14, 2017, bombing.
What sets the Pan-African Biennale apart is its inclusive vision. Instead of traditional national pavilions dominated by global powers, it will feature contributions from diaspora communities such as Afro-Brazilian architects. Degan stresses that migration is part of Africa’s story, not a loss. The program will also go beyond traditional exhibitions by creating immersive experiences that incorporate African sounds, textures, and scents. Afrofuturist writers and technology experts working on artificial intelligence and urban development are also expected to contribute, blending art, culture, and innovation.
According to organizers, the response has already been overwhelmingly positive, with architects from across the continent eager to participate. For Degan, the goal is simple: “If one young architect feels inspired to build differently because of this biennale, that is already a success.”
Ultimately, he hopes the Pan-African Architecture Biennale will become a global reference point. “I want it to be the most important biennale in the world,” he said. “One that leads on climate change, urban development, and on how we live in harmony with land, community, and history.”
The Pan-African Architecture Biennale will run in Nairobi beginning September 1, 2026.