These Modernist African Churches Look Like Spaceports

Africa is full of amazing 20th century architecture, whether it's an almost forgotten piece of Italy, or some incredible space-age buildings. But fewer people realize the space-age, modernist style was adapted to church architecture, too. Here are some of the most breathtaking African churches built in the 20th century.

The Neo-Gothic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (also known as the Casablanca Cathedral), Casablanca, Morroco, designed by Paul Tournon in 1930. It was a church until the independence of Morocco in 1956, when it was converted into a cultural center.

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(via weepingredorger and udarnik-truda)

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Maputo, Mozambique

(via F Mira and Patrick)

The Nda Mariam Orthodox Church, with an impressive mosaic by the Italian painter Nenne Sanguineti Poggi, built in the 1950s

(via Charles Roffey)

Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Alger, Algiers, Algeria, designed by Paul Herbé and Jean Le Couteur, constructed between 1944 and 1956.

(via Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Antonio Catholic Church, Maputo, Mozambique, designed by Nuno Craveiro Lopes, constructed between 1959 and 1962.

(via Afrotecture and GenZA SAGen)

All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Onitsha, Nigeria

(via Panoramio, Gbooza and Nairaland)

Cathedral of Our Lady of The Good Shepherd, Djibouti, designed by Joseph Müller, 1964

(via Djibouti Guidebook)

The Igreja Santana in Caxito, Angola

(via Angola Field Group)

Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo, Egypt, designed by Michel Bakhoum, consecrated in 1968

(via Wikimedia Commons)

The Notre Dame Cathedral in N'Djaména, Chad, severely damaged during the civil war, rebuilt in the 1980s

(via Wikimedia Commons and Colin's Pics)

Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs, Namugongo, Uganda, built between 1968 and 1975.

(via Wikimedia Commons and Uganda Diaspora News)

St. Paul's Cathedral in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), designed by Aldo Spirito, consecrated in 1980

(via Wikimedia Commons and Felix Krohn)

Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Church in Nairobi, Kenya, 1993

(via Don Bosco Kenya, David J Cote and Archidatum)