In this episode, Tobiloba Akibo, a Lagos-based landscape architect with over eight years of practice, shares her journey from architecture into landscape architecture and how she discovered its deep connections to ecology, memory, and cultural heritage. She reflects on her volunteer work with Legacy 1995, where she preserved the historic grounds of Jaekel House, and her growing passion for landscapes as carriers of memory and meaning.
Tobi highlights how landscape architecture contributes to cultural identity by looking beyond buildings to the land itself — how it has been used, how it has responded, and how it continues to evolve. She gives rich examples, including her current work on the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, where she applies heritage impact assessments and advocates for reintroducing indigenous plant species.
She discusses challenges in the field, such as misconceptions about the role of landscape architects, managing diverse stakeholders, and balancing innovation with tradition. Tobi emphasises the importance of listening to communities, respecting indigenous conservation practices, and creating space for peer mentorship among young professionals.
Her aspiration is clear: to raise awareness of landscape architecture across Africa, expand its presence in heritage spaces, and inspire more professionals to see themselves as “advocates for the land.”
