18/02/2026
ACTIVISMTHAT BINDS.
run Jesse run!!
As a young Architect, my creative inspiration were not only from other Architects but also from the revolutionaries who fought forvthe emancipation of Southern Africa , particularly, Angola,Mozambique& Namibia.I was fascinated by the battles that Newsweek covered by leaders like Augustinho Neto, Samora Mac hel& Jonas Savimbi o& their collaborations with the likes of Che Guevara & Cuba!! These narratives inspired me greatly somuchbthatI took several pilgrimages to Cuba. In the United States, Jesse Jackson was ‘the man’, so much so that I eeven volunteered to work on this local campaign in Washington DC in ‘88! I went one rally & I was hooked!! I volunteered to hand paint a looong banner which read RUNJESSE RUN!! all hand paintedin the era pre photoshop & sophisticated color printing. My elder sister Abigail reminded me this morning of me lying flat on my tummy hand psinting this rather long banner on the floor of her Apartmebt on F street NW in WashingtonDC, a few blocks from the WhiteHouse, where we wanted to make Jesse , the first black President. Activism inArchitecture was borne out of these incredible opportunities to be part of this noble& revolutionary cause. Soon aftervJESSE, I moved to LA& quickly took my Advocacy to areas like Watts in south LA. Working in a predominantly minority neighborhood , with all its challenges but with incredible Cuktural Renaissance playing in parallel, really shaped my earkyLA Architecture., morphing into ADVOCACY promoting Architecture with the likes of Bernard Zimmerman& Stephen Kanner, my partners in crime.To this day that Revolutionary zeal ignites my passion for architecture. I haven’t Ghana Practice Denny established in the old ity of Accra& still contributing Rocha get through my Firm onstructs& our ARCHIAFRIKA network which connects Architects on theVontinent& Diaspora. I cannot ebd this posting with acknowledging the passing of to other great influences in Ghana. Amos Anyimadu introduced me to Ebo Taylor in 2005 9or so& his music became the soundtrack of our monthly lecture series hosted bybtgeGoodebTulip idf old& it’s Boss, Amaechi Ndili. Am equally proud to say that our very complement reintroduced EbonTayko to a whole new geberation ofvyiofbyungGhanaians. Daddy, I lost my dear cousin& mentorArchitectMartinLarvbi who was acresebvoirbof knowjedge& archivedvourbpsternal family history. Our grand parents siblings & pre War entrepreneurs who contributed greatly to the development of a certain section of Accracwith. Sizeablevrealestate Invrstnebts& Architecture. Now you know the roots of my interests. Martin
was a passionate Architect with a love of wood work so much so that he owned a wood work
Shop
In
Partnership with his childhood friend& colleague Mike Ami. Martin was there fore my senior Colleague& collaborator on onebofbnybrecebt Projects which require detailed wood joinery which he executed with passion& finesse. He often regaled me with stories of my grandfather who was an accomplished Designer& builder prevWW2. Abusuapanyin you are sorely missed !! All 3 subjects of my posting had one thing in common, the love for humanity with is the underpinnings for ay CreativeEndeavour!! In this era of cutthroat Globsl schisms in our politics, humanity is being sidelined , to our peril!!
RUN JESSE RIN!! applies to all of us in these trying times!!
