Francis Kéré: World class architecture, mudbrick by mudbrick | Talk to Al Jazeera
Francis Kéré spent many of his childhood days trying to secure food and water in his rural community in Burkina Faso.
He was born in 1965 and grew up with no clean water or electricity. Yet, he was inspired by the limited natural resources that most people around him had taken for granted, leading him on a journey that has made him one of the world’s most renowned architects.
This year, Kéré became the first African and first Black person to win the most prestigious award in architecture, The Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Francis Kéré talks to Al Jazeera.
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As much as the interviewer wanted to paint a very sad and pitiful picture, Kere is such a positive and optimistic person. Open, honest and such a light.
My thought too.
My sentiments exactly. Did you see his expression when he said that he saw Africa as an opportunity 😂😂😂. That charity mindset will one day be over and painfully and satisfyingly ripped to shreds. 😊😊
Yes Africa and its people have so so much potential. Its just the situation around them
@@nombusodlamini7298I went back and looked. His disappointment was clear lol. He wasn't expecting that answer. That camera man 😅
😁😄
Coming from the Philippines, it’s easy to be cynical about the fate of the global south, This architect’s optimism is infectious.
Always an inspiration. The sooner we wake up and realize everything we ever need is in our continent
The sad part is that we actually know that, we just dont do anything about it(
Modern methods mixed with ancient Africa, I love it, and it looks clean and neat I am afri diaspora from the caribbean
The interviewer paints a western stero type view of africa..Africa is on the .rise progressive developments is occurring everywhere...good job to the brother being your a compliment to our motherlands development..
I wonder how much talent there is in Africa today that remains uncovered.
African is the richest content and yet so much potential is still uncovered. Makes me sad. I too wonder how good I would be given the chance to explore all I'm interested in. Instead I find myself focusing on surviving not living. That's the reality here in Swaziland
I’ve been following Kere since I was in graduate school for Architecture, this man truly inspired me. It’s awesome to see one of your heroes getting their dues much love from Haiti.
inspiring story and a true African hero.. this is kind of people we need to help Africa develop its own unique methods of doing things.
💥🌹🙏
It inspiring how much he was able to use information from the environment and local talent to complete his work
This man is a great teacher. He radiates a good spirit and determination to prosper regardless of your circumstances. Such an inspiration.
This is so inspiring, I wish our political leaders could copy him by helping communities instead of enriching themselves and their close relatives/friends
Wow. Now I have the architect for my retirement home. Africa is rising. And nothing can stop it.
The interviewer is so focused on {Africa-"The Wesl"} as if forcing a clash to exist What about Africa - The World? Africa's contribution to the world?
This journalist really can't hold back his prejudice.
I love his perspective on how colonial/corporate construction is strong, but lacks a local design perspective that enhances local life instead of imposing cultural concepts out of context. He also opens up another beautiful facet of developing human habitation that could be shared and spread across the world.
What a modest guy! Love his emphasis on the creation of architectural design in its particular communal and economic ecosystem. Very profound especially on the continent of Africa’
Africa is not a country. Africa is a CONTINENT. It is huge. The interviewer unfortunately comes across as somewhat ignorant of this.
Western World has always seen Africa as a problem not as a opportunity even tough Africa has made the west. west became what it is because of Africa and Africans. This has shown the talent and ingenuity of of the African. The pyramids is our extraordinary of Africans. Thanks to Francis Kere show your power.
Francis Kere's projects are stunning and so is the way he communicates and tell his story as well as Africa's. His work in artchitecture is influencing the entire world.
Very proud of you, brother. Africa needs imagination, inspiration, strong will and resilience!
He didn’t do it for the award sir, he did it for the love of his community, he loves his people. Again, LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE.
😲Woww!! His structures are so amazing!! Simple, yet sophisticated. The play with light and ventilation is astounding
This man is not only an inspiration for africans but also for many lower income architects from developing countries who, like him, managed to get to a similar level of higher education, as well as for any communities who wish to take part in bettering their environment along with those professionals. He's a treasure!
I think i'm mostly impress by this man passion for his community - LOVE IT!
A jewel in Francis Kere. This is permaculture, the way, the truth, and the light. How great that this is coming from Africa--the mother country of us all.
I wish documentaries like this would give historical context to these stories. For example it mentions he grew up without water, but left out the fact he was born under colonialism. They mentioned he he went on a scholarship, but neglected to mention that was during the post colonial era, under the leadership of visionary leader Thomas Sankara.
CONGRATULATIONS MR KERE. You are a true leader of Africa. You understand how to use young people and involve the members of communities to share your vision and resurrect ancient technologies and intelligence which has been lying dormant since the arrival of brutal colonizers. This gives me such hope for our beautiful and magnificent continent. Your work is so important. Your designs bring back the history of our land. This is African Architecture and the intelligence of the soul rising up once more. Never again will we be colonized into submission. Never again will we stand with begging bowls asking for handouts. I am a hobby architect and this has definitely inspired me to do something with my knowledge and love for the subject, to inspire and organise young people to become trained and to build a new landscape of beautiful sustainable homes and schools to replace the tin shacks, cardboard mansions and to humanize communities again. Thank you Sir.
❤
Here Here👏👏👏👏.
But I love Al Jazeera for bringing good stuff to light...
Very inspiring story of a young man taking upon himself to solve the problems of his motherland and give back the learnings extracted to the people in a way that uplifts them. Truly remarkable.
This was a wonderful interview by Aljazeera with Francis Ke're'. He is an international treasure. His humility, humanity and love for his people and African culture is evident in the passion expressed in his work. Francis is an inspiration and encouragement to many, especially the young African architect's of the future. May his work continue to flourish and inspire as he helps to build a better Africa, that's in harmony with the environment as an example to the world.
I often said the uniqueness of talent on the continent is amazing Africans can be different and stand apart from whats expected.
I'm very proud and inspired by this amazing architect. However, the commentator's insistence on painting a certain narrative of Africa was awful.
Pathetic and it's a reflection of his perceived bias and ignorance being his own or out of consuming this mindset from other spaces.
Wouldn't it be great if engineers in other parts of the world adopted a similar attitude instead of mimicking Western building styles?
Couldn't agree more. Our universities should be tapping this kind of talent to inspire the next generation of architects, designers and engineers
Architecture is imagination, Engineering is science and has nothing to do with aesthetic.
@@joshuaouko83 And?? Mathematics are beautiful. Natures designs are beautiful. Aesthetics is just the appreciation of any kind of beauty. The Taj mahal is a perfect example of art and science working together. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", why should your appreciation of what's beautiful be based on what someone else decides it is?
@@atambwalisametana6363 Engineers only concern themselves with stability and safety for occupants. Nothing else.
@@joshuaouko83 Some engineers, without imagination. That's why we have cities that are all looking the same, it's becoming a cookie cutter world, with no variety. Everything looks the same. The clothes we wear, the music we listen to, even the way we think is being imposed upon us. Thank God there are still a few people with imagination left. Those people use modern materials and techniques to build while still retaining aspects of their own culture and ideas.
Amazing, inspiring and equally instructive story. An absolute debunking of the firmly entrenched notion, outside and inside Africa, that Africans referenced as "BLACKS" purely by the superficial skin color CANN'T DO THIS OR THAT. Congratulations, Mr. Francis Kere. You are much more than a hero or an inspiration. You have contributed enormously to education of the woeful African leaders who have presided over the decimation of African nations by demonstrating what A BIG HEART a CAN DO MINDSET can accomplish. Hopefully, the beggarliness and CANN'T DO MINDSET of current African leaders will end with them and that the youths in Africa - the youngest continent in the world in terms of age groups -- hundreds of millions of them will follow your footsteps.
Wow! Thank you Mr Kere. Your courage and resiliance is remarkable.
Thank you for doing this interview Aljazera and congrats to a true son of Africa.
Congratulations for all you have reached despite the first stones you found since early days. No water and light did not stop you to keep learning and leaving away. You made your dream a reality, which let you help the community with better developments, focus on light, ventilation and very practical. Feel very proud of your acknowledge and identity.
Salute to my Brother, his love for our people is heartfelt, This is so inspiring, our brother has laid a blue print on first how all rural areas of Africa to be developed in no time and cost effectively... Stop playing with us, We are unStoppable Africa Is The Future..
Seeing his work feels like looking into the future I'd like to find myself (in by the time it becomes the present). Its so exciting and so attainable! Architecture on a human scale.
Amazing, inspiring nd changed the mindset that was blocking me. Thank you Francis Kèrè and Jazeera.
I’m in South Africa, I’m hoping to raise funds and hopefully I could employ your services...personally I have been for architecture that reflects us as Africans🙏🏾
❤
Congratulations. God bless you.
A wise professional that inspiring all of us to work for a better world 🌱🌱🌱
"If there ain't no beauty then you better make some beauty..."-Maurice White, "All About Love" , Earth Wind and Fire. This is what he has done. Africa is indeed rising🎉🎉🎉🎉
Africa has not only made the West, it has made the world
Much respect to this man. His designs are awesome and the fact he could construct this things with mostly clay and primitive things, thats truly amazing. He deserves all that he's been blessed with. I hope other african nations are inspired by him as well.
I would like to substitute local materials in place of primitive things.
@@denyesethomas252thank you
Primitive ways...... you are talking rubbish
It was the Black Moorish Nobilities who ruled Germany up until the mid 17th-18th century built and designed the first sacred architectural, house's governmental buildings, schools universities, cathedrals, castle's, paved lit roads and sacred monuments in Germany and Europe...Their is a 20 ft statue of the Blackmoorish King George Copsburg in the town centre of Bavaria..The white germans of Bavaria have been protesting and signing petitions up until 2022 to take This statue down of this Black skin wooly hair thick lips Moorish King... But the average white german or european doesn't know the True history of Germany, but the German hierarchy does George Copsburg is also right now on the Coats of arms of Germany.. the highest award given for the contribution to Germany, king Nuremberg responsible for all early breweries throughout South Germany was also a Black Moorish king of Germany in the 17th century Black Moorish King Leopold Hapsburg up until the 17th century was Emperor of Rome, Cyprus Hungary and Holland, These Black Moorish Nobilities who are responsible for all early mediaeval to victorian era advanced sacred architectural designs, whyte german jews took over in the 18th century when the Moors were conquered and began copying this format.. These historical facts are erased from modern day history but the sacred Moorish Architectural designs is proof of our ancestors masonry still remains throughout Europe...We are Just picking up where they left off from
Congratulations Mr Kere. You are truly amazing.
Mr. Kere is an exemplar for the cooperation that advances life. His desire to work with natural, local resources and his heart are all worthy of admiration and thanks! Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Kere! You are such an inspiration in creativity and of the heart.
Wow! Masha’Allaah he is so inspirational and so motivated to do good for those he loves. 💕💕💕 I hope that he continues to be a leader for his people 💕💕 insha Allaah 💕💕💕
You are really an inspiration
The most beautiful modern architecture I have seen.
Proud of him
Thanks that's the way to do it 🌍👍
What an inspiration! We got it all in Africa. We just need to wake up as a people.
Proudly African. Yes we can!
Good job, Kere!
Congratulations Monsieur Kéré❤❤❤❤❤
He's a great Inspiration!!!
Amazing designer!
God forever bless you my brother with much heart felt love thank you from T&T👍🥳💕💐
Francis Kéré is surely an inspiration to young Africans, but also to people all over the world. I’m concerned the interviewer may have missed that 🤦🏽♀️
Assisti emocionada a essa entrevista. A profissão levada com toda a dignidade,a importância,coletividade,amor ...meu,como a Arquitetura é linda!
Francis Ke're'. I am very proud of you so is Africa!
I wish the interviewer had better questions other than focusing on 'poor Africa' 'Poor Francis'. There's so much we could learn from him. Choice of material, structural concepts, and so much more.
This is so inspiring I love the man and his ideas
What God starts in us He God will bring it to completion
You are a True Hero .Hat Off 🧢 ❤❤❤
As an Architect myself based in Kenya, Francis Kere is a figure I admire a lot, he once said that African Architecture needs not copy the West and honestly that's something usually lacking in many African buildings there is usually no sense of identity even though Western architecture is beautiful I think we should, as Kere implies, need to try be original at times.
Amazing! There’s greatness in everyone and everything!!
Amazing story!
Glooming with pride and it is not me !! What a vibration.!!!
Brilhante e Amado arquiteto, em filho da Luz. Sóis muito educado, e gentil, então, também vamos ser: perdoe o entrevistador...
Thank you for such an inspiring interview. What a brilliant man! A True Grounded African Man. That's is so powerful in it's humility. Bury your hands in the dirt, See where and how you can make a difference. But start by elevating the people that TRULY MATTER - the Children and of course women! Thank you! You so deserve to FLY!!
In Africa, Man, Woman and children matter. Keep your deluded ideas far away. Africa is still a manual labour driven continent. You can afford to deceive yourself because your society has been highly mechanised by Men so you can afford to claim ' Women and Children' only matter
So so inspiring.Francis Kéré 🙌🏾🙌🏾
Thank you Francis Kere, I am proud to be an African Architect.
What a humble, optimistic, intelligent man!!!
🎵 Music 🎶 has always been a crucial instrument for fostering community, healing and conjuring liberatory futures. In this piece, Madiba explores his love for music and how, during a night out at a concert, he regrettably missed seeing Tracy Chapman and the Manhattan Brothers performing. Through this playlist, we explore the present past and the haunting events that continue to contribute to current struggles for FREEDOM. We remember Mam’ *Winnie* and her sacrifices and feel our way through her pain, courage and temerity and draw inspiration from to continue to work for a society in which the constitution is a lived reality for all. “ _Let us give practical recognition to the injustices of the past, by building a future based on equality and social justice_ .” - 🇿🇦 *NELSON MANDELA* ✍️ _Signing of South Africa's new Constitution_ , _Sharpeville_ , _10 December 1996_
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Well done and thank you so much
Bravo! Very inspiring. We need these sustainable school buildings in Nigeria. We also need to stop exporting raw materials so that jobs are created locally.
You are a true son of Africa Mr Kere
This is so inspiring 🙌.
They should’ve used a different interviewer, them microagressions are real😕
Really... ? Perceive quite the opposite, quite a 'friendly' interviewer; List micro aggressions perceived...curious
@@minimalist279Every other question was about challenges and difficulties. Still waiting to hear about the man's creative process
@@zeewann ...then google the man's work! plenty about his creative process in architectural forums and magazines. Al Jazeera has a particular narrative yes challenges and difficulties... An African, from Africa winning a prestigious architectural award ...really, you expect an in-depth treatise of his creative process from an interview... you kidding?
@@minimalist279 Yes, I expect that an interview with an architect would have some information about his architectural and creative process. That's a no brainer. Did I say that it had to be a dissertation? Regardless, it doesn't detract from the fact that the interviewer was laser focused on primarily the negatives!!!
I am impressed by Ke're''s achievements and his service & action to his community. Congratulations to him for winning the prestigious Pritzker Award👋👋👋. However, @ 23.:46, Al Jazeera Pours cold water to the interview, by concluding that Kere's achievement is meant for Africans, yet there are many a young aspiring architects Globally who would wish to learn from him. Begs me to ask, Is The Pritzker an African Award?
Without finishing to watch the interview I will say well done!
A patriot God bless you ❤❤❤
King Kéré 👑👑👑
If the WEST steered clear of Africa , there would be no conflict
China has its eyes on Africa...
HIS GIFT FROM HEAVENLY FATHER 🎉😂❤💪🎵🎶💯🌞🌻💛👑💎🙌
Proud of Burkina Faso brother, and if you are black just know that we have thousands of black people like him.
I need the adrrss of this Architecher in Benin Republic
Sbonge 🙌🏾
😭😭😭🖤🖤🖤🖤the lion in the jungle is coming is out
Wow
Today I learned America doesn’t have political unrest, armed groups, and climate issues
great news
Congratulations 🎉 🎈🎊 on your well deserved accomplishment and success. Your other dream 😴 are still there & I know you’ll obtain above ⬆️ the sky where you’ll Soar as the Eagle 🦅 thst you’re. You have a humungous heart ❤️ full of love ❤️ never change King 👑 never 👎 change. Love ❤️ May Angels 😇 always surround & protect you shalom
Black is powerful
I am inspired here in Swaziland. Wanting to look like the west is holding us back.I want to commerciliaze thatched roofing
Massive.
This interviewer is clearly a person with negative bias of Africa and Africans. He has no idea about the History that, Africa is the cradle of Man Kind and Civilization. Kere started his show work with his Local Primary school, using his community and local building materials. Any body can shine, from humble beginnings, no matter what part of the world you come from.