African vs. Western design: Building belonging | Adonia Mankou Yanate | TEDxUniversityofPretoria
In this powerful and thought-provoking TEDxUniversityofPretoria talk, Adonia Mankou Yanate, an interior designer and founder of Shumukh Design, explores how Africa can redefine progress through architecture that feels deeply African — not just modern on the surface.Adonia challenges the myth that design is neutral, revealing how the spaces we build shape not only our cities but our sense of belonging and identity. From the Great Mosque of Djenné to rondavels and rock-hewn churches, she draws wisdom from centuries of African architecture — sustainable, community-centered, and climate-responsive by design.In a world obsessed with glass towers and imported blueprints, Adonia calls for a return to design rooted in culture, climate, and connection — where architecture becomes both a physical and emotional home for Africans.Her talk is a visionary blueprint for the future — one where African cities stand not as echoes of elsewhere, but as bold statements of identity, resilience, and belonging.#TEDxUniversityofPretoria #AfricanDesign #Architecture #Sustainability #Identity #UrbanDesign #Heritage #FutureCities
Adonia Mankou Yanate is a qualified interior designer and founder of Shumukh Design, an emerging interior design studio based in South Africa. With a philosophy rooted in storytelling, cultural relevance, and spatial impact, she is committed to redefining how African spaces are imagined, experienced, and valued. Her work balances modern innovation with the richness of African materiality, heritage, and form, creating interiors that are visually striking, deeply intentional, and proudly connected to the continent’s creative legacy. Adonia’s work and perspective have been featured in African Column, Lioness of Africa, To Build magazine, Afrimaxx on DW (Deutsche Welle), Africa Radio, and showcased at Decorex South Africa. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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