The global icon of architecture faced a backlash from Americans, and especially African-American architects who were unhappy that David Adjaye, a Ghanaian-British professional, would win a bid to build the centerpiece museum in Washington, DC to honour black American history.
Years later, he returned to Ghana, the land of his heritage, and, in a repetition of history, faced a similar if not greater backlash on being awarded a contract to build the National Cathedral, among other landmark Ghanaian development projects.
The renowned and celebrated architect David Adjaye will be the first guest on the highly anticipated Sunday Night, which premières on Asaase Radio 99.5 on Sunday 14 June at 7pm.
Asaase Radio, which has been entertaining listeners with great music over the few past weeks of test transmission, will launch on Sunday 14 June.
The veteran broadcaster Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, host of Sunday Night, will engage the founder of Adjaye Associates, David Adjaye, on diverse issues – from his personality, beliefs and family to his achievements, Ghana’s development and the role of architecture.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The weekly talk show Sunday Night will combine personality interviews with current affairs and treat its guests and topics in a refined and professional manner that reflects the ethos of Asaase Radio.
The show will feature Ghanaian, African and global newsmakers in conversation with Kwaku Sakyi-Addo to discuss a wide range of subjects, from business and the arts through science and politics.
ABOUT SIR DAVID ADJAYE OBE
David Adjaye was born in Tanzania to Ghanaian parents. His influences range from contemporary art, music and science to African art forms and the civic life of cities.
Adjaye, who recently moved to Ghana from New York and London, is a Ghanaian-British architect who has received international acclaim for the amazing impact he has had on his professional field and for beautifying cities across the world.
Twenty years ago, he founded Adjaye Associates, which today operates globally through studios in Accra, London and New York, and undertakes projects spanning the globe.
He received an OBE in 2007 and a knighthood for services to architecture in Queen Elizabeth’s biannual honours list in spring 2017.
Sir David is among a small elite group of people known as “starchitects”. A starchitect is an architect whose global celebrity and critical acclaim have transformed him into an idol of the architecture world and beyond.
Sir David is now the architect in charge of designing the National Cathedral project of the Government of Ghana, the construction of which is largely supported by donations from the public.
Known for his ingenious use of materials and his sculptural ability, Sir David has established himself as an architect with an artist’s sensibility and vision.
His projects range from private houses, bespoke furniture collections, product design, exhibitions and temporary pavilions to major arts centres, civic buildings and architectural masterplans.
Adjaye’s largest project to date, the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington, DC, opened on the National Mall in 2016. Its inauguration was named the Cultural Event of the Year by the New York Times.
In 2017, Adjaye was recognised as one of the 100 most influential people of the year by TIME Magazine.
What’s his story? Tune in to Sunday Night on 14 June at 7pm to hear our host, Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, discuss the multicultural and cross-continental journey of controversy and success of his guest, Sir David Adjaye.
