Meet the first African woman to receive Britain's Royal Gold Medal for Architecture

The King issued a letter confirming Lokko's selection for the Royal Gold Medal, inviting her to the Buckingham Palace.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Honors Committee 2024 described Lokko’s work to "democratise architecture" as a "clarion call for equitable representation in policies, planning, and design that shape our spaces."

RIBA commended her impactful work, particularly her focus on Africa and the Global South.

The award, presented on behalf of His Majesty the King by RIBA and approved by the monarch each year, is considered one of the highest honours in architecture globally. Since the award was established in 1848, she became the first African woman to receive it.

"It was something that I never, ever imagined would ever come my way," Lokko was quoted by local media Ghanaian media GhanaWeb. "The first person I wanted to tell was my father who is no longer here. It is bittersweet in a way, but it was also an incredible moment of validation.”

Lokko is an architecture teacher and academic in universities and other institutions around the world. She holds a PhD in Architecture from the University of London and has authored numerous works.

In 2023, Lokko made history as the first woman of African descent to curate the Venice Biennale's architecture event. She founded the African Futures Institute in Accra, Ghana, in 2021, aiming to reimagine "Africa as the crucible of the future".

"A fierce champion of equity and inclusion in all aspects of life, Lesley Lokko's progressive approach to architecture education offers hope for the future – a profession that welcomes those from all walks of life, considers the needs of our environment and acknowledges a broad range of cultures and perspectives," the World Architecture Community quoted RIBA president Muyiwa Oki.

The 2024 Royal Gold Medal will be formally presented to Lokko in London on May 2, 2024. This prestigious honour adds to Lokko's list of awards, including an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2023 for her services to architecture and education, and the RIBA Annie Spink Award in 2020.

“I’m delighted to be considered alongside some of the great past winners of the Royal Gold Medal," Lokko was quoted by the World Architecture Community. "I came into architecture seeking certainties, looking for answers. Instead, I found questions and possibilities, far richer, more curious, and more empathetic ways to interpret and shape the world."