Architect, Academic & Novelist; Founder of African Futures Institute; Curator of Venice Architecture Biennale
Lesley Lokko Biography
Lesley Lokko OBE is a Ghanaian-Scottish architect, academic, and novelist whose work focuses on architecture, cultural identity, and education. Lokko holds a BSc (Arch), MArch, and PhD in Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. Her work addresses issues of race, identity, and the global politics of architecture, themes that are central to both her academic and literary careers. As a novelist, Lokko has published 13 novels, beginning with "Sundowners," which have been translated into 15 languages. She is the editor of "White Papers, Black Marks: Race, Culture, Architecture" and serves as Editor-in-Chief of FOLIO: Journal of Contemporary African Architecture.
Lokko's career in architectural education spans three continents and has contributed to institutional change. She founded and directed the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg and served as Dean of Architecture at The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at The City College of New York. The African Futures Institute (AFI), which Lokko established in Accra, Ghana, presents a new model for architectural education that integrates teaching, research, and public events, and expands into curatorial practice, exhibitions, and publishing. The AFI aims to break down disciplinary boundaries and shift the focus of architectural education toward Africa and the African Diaspora.
Lokko curated the Eighteenth International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, becoming the first person of African descent to hold this position. Her curatorial approach emphasized decoloniality, climate justice, and the diversity of global architectural practices. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) recognized her leadership at the Venice Biennale as a significant event that brought together African and Africa-related architectural expressions.
Lokko has received several honors, including the Royal Gold Medal from RIBA, making her the first woman of African descent to receive the award since its inception. She was also awarded an OBE for services to architecture and education and was named on TIME Magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People. Lokko is a founding member of the Council on Urban Initiatives, co-founded by LSE Cities, UN Habitat, and UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. She is a visiting professor at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, and at University College Dublin. Lokko also serves as a trustee of the Architecture Foundation and as an advisory board member of New Architecture Writers. Through her teaching, writing, and institution-building, Lokko continues to shape the discourse on global architecture, education, and cultural identity.
-
How do I book Lesley Lokko to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Lesley Lokko for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Lesley Lokko, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Lesley Lokko or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Lesley Lokko
Speaking fees for Lesley Lokko, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Lesley Lokko are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Lesley Lokko, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Lesley Lokko speak about?
Lesley Lokko is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Architecture, Architecture, Art & Design, Author, Black Heritage, Civil Rights, Creativity, DEI, Economy, Education, Environment, Environmental Activism, Female Leadership, Fiction Authors, Influential Women, Non-Fiction Authors, Social Activism, Social Justice -
Where does Lesley Lokko travel from?
Lesley Lokko generally travels from Ghana, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Lesley Lokko’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Lesley Lokko for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Lesley Lokko for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Lesley Lokko or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Lesley Lokko is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Lesley Lokko for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Lesley Lokko generally travels from Ghana and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Boyah J. Farah, Amali Tower, Valeria Luiselli, Dr. Bernice King and Angela Davis. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Lesley Lokko for an upcoming live or virtual event.
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.








