Africa Hall is a photographic journey exploring the origins and life of an iconic building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, declared a "Monument to African History" in 2015. Designed in 1961 by architect Arturo Mezzèdimi, the building hosted the birth of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 and remains the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) today.

Picture Editor Tiziana Faraoni has curated a selection of unpublished photographs from the architect’s personal archive, combined with images by acclaimed photographers, offering a unique perspective on the history and architecture of Africa Hall.

In September 2024, the book was presented at the United Nations African headquarters in Addis Ababa. This first edition of 500 copies was not available for sale but was gifted as a limited edition to international authorities. The first copy was presented to the President of Ethiopia, while the second was donated to António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The book's title design was inspired by the modernist geometries of Arturo Mezzèdimi’s Africa Hall project. The two mirrored panels of the slipcase feature bilingual lettering in English and Amharic, the Ethiopian alphabet.

Currently, the book is exhibited in the permanent museum within Africa Hall. A second edition is planned for 2025, to be printed and distributed internationally by Oro Editions, a California-based publisher specializing in art and architecture.

Technical details:

Format: 24.4 × 29.7 cm

Pages: 432

Printing: 5/5 UV LED offset colors

Paper: Arena White Rough 120 g

Binding: Sewn hardcover

Language: English

Limited edition: 500 copies

Year of publication: 2024

Editor: Marcello Mezzedimi

Photo Editor: Tiziana Faraoni

Publisher: Oro Editions

ISBN: 978-1-961856-63-9

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