Lesley Lokko

Lesley Lokko, born in 1964, is a distinguished Ghanaian-Scottish academic, novelist, and architect whose influence spans continents and disciplines. With a rich background in architecture, she has held significant academic positions, including serving as a professor and dean at the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at The City College of New York from 2019 to 2020.

In 2015, Lokko founded the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg, marking a pivotal moment in postgraduate architecture education in Africa. Her commitment to advancing architectural education continued with her return to Accra, Ghana, in 2021, where she established the African Futures Institute, a platform dedicated to postgraduate studies and public events in architecture.

Recognized for her contributions to the field, Lokko was awarded the Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architecture in January 2024, a prestigious honor that underscores her impact on architecture globally. Additionally, she was named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2024, further solidifying her status as a leading figure in contemporary architecture.