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.
Advertisement
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.
G/O Media may get a commission
(via weepingredorger and udarnik-truda)
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Maputo, Mozambique
Advertisement
The Nda Mariam Orthodox Church, with an impressive mosaic by the Italian painter Nenne Sanguineti Poggi, built in the 1950s
Advertisement
(via Charles Roffey)
Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Alger, Algiers, Algeria, designed by Paul Herbé and Jean Le Couteur, constructed between 1944 and 1956.
Advertisement
Advertisement
(via Wikimedia Commons)
Saint Antonio Catholic Church, Maputo, Mozambique, designed by Nuno Craveiro Lopes, constructed between 1959 and 1962.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
(via Afrotecture and GenZA SAGen)
All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Onitsha, Nigeria
Advertisement
Advertisement
(via Panoramio, Gbooza and Nairaland)
Cathedral of Our Lady of The Good Shepherd, Djibouti, designed by Joseph Müller, 1964
Advertisement
Advertisement
(via Djibouti Guidebook)
The Igreja Santana in Caxito, Angola
Advertisement
(via Angola Field Group)
Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo, Egypt, designed by Michel Bakhoum, consecrated in 1968
Advertisement
Advertisement
(via Wikimedia Commons)
The Notre Dame Cathedral in N'Djaména, Chad, severely damaged during the civil war, rebuilt in the 1980s
Advertisement
(via Wikimedia Commons and Colin's Pics)
Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs, Namugongo, Uganda, built between 1968 and 1975.
Advertisement
Advertisement
(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
Advertisement
Advertisement
(via Wikimedia Commons and Felix Krohn)
Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Church in Nairobi, Kenya, 1993
Advertisement
Advertisement
(via Don Bosco Kenya, David J Cote and Archidatum)
Advertisement
DISCUSSION
And the barrage of "do you know how many poor people we could have fed with this money" in three, two...
Edit: that only took twelve minutes.