Narratives on women architects in former Africa colonised by Portuguese rule: Professional profiles based on training practices

Abstract

In “The Canon and the Void,” Meltem Gürel and Kathryn Anthony highlight the persistent absence of women architects in the historiography of North American architecture schools, a gap first identified by Karen Kingsley in the 1980s. This lack of representation extends beyond education into professional inequality, rooted in the historical neglect of female contributions to architecture. In response, recent Portuguese-speaking scholarship has begun addressing the roles of women architects in former Portuguese colonial territories in Africa. This presentation focuses on five women—Carlota Quintanilha, Antonieta Jacinto, Maria Emília Caria, Ana Torres, and Assunção Paixão—who played distinct professional roles from the 1950s to the 1970s. These women include forerunners supported by family, experts tackling regional challenges during the colonial wars, and African locals who maintained public works during transitions to independence. The study aims to explore how their presence influenced various actors and agendas during these transformative periods.