CLOSED Call for Participation: Alternative Heritage and Vernacular Architecture - A Foundational Dialogue Conference – 13 August 2025

IFRA_Nigeria is pleased to announce the upcoming Alternative Heritage and Vernacular Architecture Conference, a premier gathering and a foundational dialogue for academics (confirmed, young PhD and Master students), culture and heritage professionals, architects, heritage conservators, art historians, archaeologists, …, taking place on 13 August 2025 in Ibadan. Two main sessions will involve an academic conference and a round table with different stakeholders cordially invite you to submit abstracts to participate and present your research papers, groundbreaking methodologies and practices, and case studies at this important event. The proposition will be chosen on the basis of an original perspective and fieldwork. Purely theoretical and second-hand abstract will not be considered as relevant.

Conference Theme: Alternative Heritage and Vernacular Architecture - A Foundational Dialogue

This conference seeks to create an engaging environment for thoughtful discussions about the intersections between alternative heritage, encompassing intangible, every day, and frequently neglected cultural practices, and vernacular architecture, which includes the culturally embedded and locally rooted forms of construction and spatial knowledge. Scientific focus of the conference and issues anticipated to be discussed, and papers are to be presented at the alternative heritage conference include but not limited to sub-themes such as:

1. Gender, ritual, and memory in the spaces we inhabit (examining how vernacular spaces carry social meaning - especially around gender roles, spirituality, and intergenerational practices).
2. Preserving the architecture of the unrecorded (highlighting the need for digitization and alternative methods to preserve disappearing heritage structures and oral spatial histories).
3. Rethinking Preservation through community, oral Traditions, and everyday Architecture (challenges elitist models of heritage and promotes inclusive frameworks that centre local voices, traditions, and lived spaces).

Submission Guidelines:

• Abstract: A concise summary of your proposed presentation (word count limit: 250 - 300 words
• Biography: A brief profile of your expertise and affiliations
• Abstract Submission Deadline: 25 July 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: 1 August 2025
• Accommodation and logistics support will be provided for paper presenters at the conference

Scientific Committee:

Dr Barbara Morovich

Prof. Cordelia Osasona

Femi Olanrewaju

Adejoke Adetoro

To submit your abstract for this conference, kindly email your abstract to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject “Alternative Heritage and Vernacular Architecture Conference”

For further scientific inquiries on the conference please kindly email your question to Mr Femi Olanrewaju This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and Mrs Uzuazor Edafe Okosodo  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Alternative Heritage and Vernacular Architecture Conference is part of the ongoing FEF Alternative Heritage Project, sponsored by the French Embassy in Nigeria through IFRA-Nigeria in collaboration with Geo-meridien Limited.

We look forward to receiving your contribution and making the Alternative Heritage Conference a successful platform for knowledge exchange and innovation.