From the Editor's Desk
As we gear up for our highly anticipated IFLA Africa/ILASA Conference in Pretoria this September, excitement is building—and for good reason! This hybrid event (in-person and virtual) at the CSIR International Convention Centre promises two energising days (25–26 September) filled with inspiration, connection, and real-time discovery.
What’s on Deck!
• Keynote Addresses & Panel Discussions with industry leaders from across Africa, covering themes like resilient cities, climate-responsive design, and nature-based solutions.
• A Regional Council Meeting wraps up the Conference on the last day (26 September)—a pivotal moment for collaboration, strategy setting, and shaping our collective way forward.
• Plus, two exciting site visits will showcase Pretoria’s innovative landscape interventions—firsthand learning meets real-world context.
Adding to the momentum, IFLA Africa recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UDISA—the Urban Design Institute of South Africa. In his Not from the president's article, UDISA Vice-Chairman Almer du Pisanie explores why collaboration between our two disciplines is vital, anchoring design in resilience, equity, and community well-being.
This issue is your doorway to the Conference: insights, schedules, and community moments that invite you to be present, whether in the room or virtually. Let’s come together, share our stories, and co-design a future where African landscapes—and their communities—thrive.
See you in Pretoria!
Tobiloba Akibo
{Not} from the President's Desk
Updates
New Department of Landscape Architecture at UNILAG
We are delighted to share some exciting news with our community— the University of Lagos, Nigeria has officially established a full-fledged Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, under its newly created Faculty of Architecture.
This marks a historic step for the profession in Nigeria, placing Landscape Architecture at the heart of academic and professional discourse in one of the country’s leading universities. Dr. Nnezi Uduma Olugu has been appointed as the pioneer Head of Department, bringing vision and leadership to this milestone initiative.
The department, one of three within the Faculty of Architecture, will be introduced to the public through its inaugural seminar, signaling the beginning of a new era for landscape education and practice in Nigeria.
See details of the seminar and opportunities to engage with this exciting development.
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A Legacy of African Landscapes – Now Available
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We are excited to announce the release of A Legacy of African Landscapes: Reflections from the African Journal of Landscape Architecture, edited by Bernard Oberholzer and Graham A. Young.
This important publication brings together extracts from the African Journal of Landscape Architecture (AJLA), offering a rich collection of perspectives and projects from across the continent. The volume highlights the diverse ways in which landscape architecture is practiced in Africa—illuminating regional nuances, cultural contexts, environmental challenges, and innovative design approaches shaping the discipline today.
As Gareth Doherty, Associate Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design, notes:
“The editors … have done a tremendous service to the field by providing a platform for writing about African landscapes and making texts openly accessible as a resource for designing, teaching and learning about African landscapes.”
The book will be available at the ILASA/IFLA Africa Conference – Reframing the African Landscape taking place on 25–26 September 2025 at the CSIR International Conference Centre in Pretoria, South Africa.
• Special Symposium Rate: R295.00 (US$20.00)
• Post-Conference Rate: R350.00 (US$25.00)
This is an essential addition to every landscape architect’s library and a valuable resource for anyone passionate about Africa’s landscapes and the future of the profession.
