Lesley Lokko facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lesley Lokko OBE
Lokko in 2010
Born	Lesley Naa Norle Lokko 1964 (age 60–61) Dundee, Scotland
Nationality	Ghanaian-Scottish
Alma mater	University College London
Occupation	Academic, novelist
Known for	Founder of African Futures Institute
Awards	RIBA Annie Spink Award (2020) Ada Louise Huxtable Prize (2021) Royal Gold Medal (2024)

Lesley Naa Norle Lokko is a talented Ghanaian-Scottish academic and writer. She was born in 1964. She has taught at many universities around the world. These include places like Johannesburg, London, Accra, and Edinburgh.

In 2015, Lokko started the Graduate School of Architecture (GSA) in Johannesburg. This school focuses on advanced architecture studies in Africa. Later, in 2021, she returned to Accra, Ghana. There, she founded the African Futures Institute. This is another school for architecture students and a place for public events.

In January 2024, Lesley Lokko received the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA). This is one of the highest awards in the world for architecture. She was also named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2024.

Early Life and Education

Lesley Lokko was born in 1964 in Dundee, Scotland. Her father was a surgeon from Ghana, and her mother was Scottish Jewish. She grew up living in both Ghana and Scotland. When she was 17, she went to a private boarding school in England.

She first studied Hebrew and Arabic at Oxford University. However, she later moved to the United States. She then studied architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. She earned her first degree in 1992 and a master's degree in 1995. In 2007, she completed her PhD in architecture from the University of London.

Lesley Lokko's Career

As a Writer

Lesley Lokko's writing often explores ideas about culture and identity. She has given many talks in South Africa. She has also taught in the United Kingdom and the United States. She writes regularly for The Architectural Review magazine.

She has also edited several books and journals. One important book she edited was White Papers, Black Marks: Race, Culture, Architecture in 2000. She was also the editor-in-chief of FOLIO: Journal of Contemporary African Architecture.

In 2004, Lokko published her first novel, Sundowners. This book became a bestseller. She has written 11 more novels since then. Some of her other books include Saffron Skies (2005) and Bitter Chocolate (2008). Her novels are known for featuring strong women in exciting jobs. These characters travel the world and get involved in interesting stories. In 2020, she released her novel Soul Sisters.

She also wrote an essay called "No more than three, please!" for the book New Daughters of Africa in 2019.

In Architecture

Lesley Lokko has taught architecture all over the world. From 1997 to 2000, she was a professor in the United States. She taught at Iowa State University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2000, she became a visiting professor at the University of Michigan.

She then moved back to the United Kingdom for nearly ten years. During this time, she taught architecture at several universities. These included Kingston University and the University of Westminster. At Westminster, she created a special master's degree program. It focused on Architecture, Cultural Identity, and Globalization.

When she returned to South Africa, she became a visiting scholar at the University of Cape Town. In 2014-2015, Lokko partnered with the University of Johannesburg. Together, they started the Graduate School of Architecture (GSA). She became its director. The GSA is special because it is the only school in Africa that uses the "Unit System" for teaching. This system is similar to those used at famous schools like Harvard University and London's Architectural Association.

In June 2019, she was chosen to be the dean of the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture. This school is part of the City College of New York. She held this important role until 2020.

After that, she returned to Ghana in 2021. There, she founded the African Futures Institute (AFI) in Accra. This is a postgraduate school for architecture. It also hosts public events.

In 2021, Lesley Lokko was chosen to be the curator for the 18th Venice Biennale of Architecture. This is a very important international architecture exhibition. It opened in 2023. She was the first Black curator ever for the Biennale. The exhibition was called "The Laboratory of the Future." It focused on two main ideas: decolonization and decarbonization. Lokko wanted the exhibition to show new ways of thinking about architecture. She said, "It is impossible to build a better world if one cannot first imagine it."

The exhibition featured many architects and artists from Africa. It also included those from the African diaspora (people of African descent living outside Africa). For the first time, they made up most of the contributors. The exhibition also had an equal number of men and women. It was seen as a powerful and important show.

Awards and Recognition

Lesley Lokko has received many important awards for her work.

• In 2020, she won the RIBA Annie Spink Award. This award recognizes excellence in architectural education.
• In 2021, she received the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize. This prize honors contributions to architecture.

In 2023, Lokko was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This honor was given to her for her services to architecture and education.

In January 2024, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced a huge honor for Lokko. She received the Royal Gold Medal. This is one of the highest awards in the world for architecture. It celebrates a person's lifetime work and their big influence on architecture. Lesley Lokko is the first African woman to receive this award. She is also only the second Black architect to get it since it began in 1848.

Muyiwa Oki, the president of RIBA, called her "a fierce champion of equity and inclusion." He said that Lokko's ideas for teaching architecture offer hope for the future. He believes she helps make the profession welcoming to everyone. She also encourages architects to think about the environment and different cultures.

In 2024, Lokko was included on the Time 100 list. This list features the 100 most influential people in the world. In December 2024, she was also named on the BBC's 100 Women list.

Selected Published Works

• 2000: White Papers, Black Marks: Race, Culture, Architecture
• 2004: Sundowners
• 2005: Saffron Skies
• 2008: Bitter Chocolate
• 2009: Rich Girl, Poor Girl
• 2010: One Secret Summer
• 2011: A Private Affair
• 2012: An Absolute Deception
• 2014: Little White Lies
• 2016: The Last Debutante
• 2021: Soul Sisters

As Editor

• 2000: White Papers, Black Marks: Architecture, Race, Culture
• 2017: FOLIO: Journal of Contemporary African Architecture Vol. 1
• 2020: FOLIO: Journal of Contemporary African Architecture Vol. 2

See also

In Spanish: Lesley Lokko para niños