May Reflections

The burden of being pioneers in a still little-known field can sometimes feel enormous. Many of us carry the responsibility of constantly explaining, advocating, teaching, and proving the value of landscape architecture in spaces where the profession is still growing and finding its footing. It is a responsibility I try to carry with humility.

What makes this burden lighter, however, is knowing that none of us carry it alone.

As we close out the month of May, beginning with Workers’ Day and ending with many moments of reflection across the continent, I find myself especially grateful for the many “burden carriers” within our community. The colleagues, collaborators, editors, volunteers, students, mentors, and friends who continue to give their time, energy, and passion to growing this profession across Africa. Thank you for making the work lighter, the conversations richer, and the journey more meaningful.

Every month going forward, we will be sharing images and reflections on favourite landscapes across Africa through the eyes of landscape architects from across the continent. This project started at the ILASA/IFLA Africa conference last year September through Dr Christine Price. There is something powerful about seeing Africa through the places that inspire us most. You can submit your favourite landscape here.

We are excited to begin this series with Nina Brand, whose landscape this month reminds us of the beauty, complexity, and emotional connection embedded within African landscapes.

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Growing up watching the sunset over Nature’s Valley in South Africa is an experience I am so grateful for. Floating along in the current as the tide comes through the lagoon mouth pictured is a close second!- Nina Brand

May also brought with it several important international observances that remind us why our work matters. From the International Day of Families, to the International Day for Biological Diversity, and the growing conversations around the International Day of the Boy Child, this month has been a reminder that landscapes are deeply connected to people, care, identity, and future generations. The spaces we shape, influence how children grow, how communities connect, how biodiversity survives, and how cultures continue to thrive.

Landscape architecture is ultimately about relationships, between people and place, ecology and culture, memory and future. Across Africa, many are continuing this work often without recognition, but never without impact. So as May comes to an end, I simply want to say thank you. Thank you to everyone carrying the work forward in classrooms, offices, construction sites, wetlands, parks, villages, cities, and communities across the continent.

The work continues, but thankfully, so does the community carrying it together.