Earlier this week, on May 26th, celebrated Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye formally received the 2021 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Royal Gold Medal in a virtual ceremony. Surprise luminaries from around the world, including former U.S. President Barack Obama and U2 singer Bono, participated to congratulate Adjaye on his historic accomplishment.

Calling in from Ghana, Adjaye received his award from the UK’s high commissioner to Ghana, Iain Walker, on behalf of the Queen. 

“It’s incredibly humbling and a great honor to have my peers recognize the work I have developed with my team and its contribution to the field over the past 25 years,” Adjaye said upon hearing the news that he received the Royal Gold Medal. “Architecture, for me, has always been about the creation of beauty to edify all peoples around the world equally and to contribute to the evolution of the craft. The social impact of this discipline has been and will continue to be the guiding force in the experimentation that informs my practice. A heartfelt and sincere moment of gratitude and thanks to all the people who supported the journey to get to this moment.”

Barack Obama was one of the event’s first speakers. He said Adjaye was a “kindred spirit,” pointing to their similar childhoods, in which they moved around a lot. “I think growing up in different places doesn’t automatically make you a good architect, if it did, I would be able to more than just doodle. But it does give you a perspective that others might not…,” said Obama. He went on to describe Adjaye’s design for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. as “genius, pure and simple.”

Musician and U2 frontman Bono, who worked with Adjaye on his AIDS charity Red project, had this to say: “David is a great man, his work, however dark some of the themes, it just seems to be shot through with light and framed around light. We’re pleased to be your colleagues, your comrades, your fans.”

Adjaye, the first Black architect to win the RIBA Gold Medal in its 172-year history, was praised by African leaders for his work and advocacy of the continent. They included Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, former South African President Thabo Meki, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. 

“I'm very proud of knowing him and proud of the work that he has done as an architect and an artist,” said President Nana Akufo-Addo. "One [thing] that stands out of course is our collaboration to build a National Cathedral for Ghana. He was the architect I selected to do the design, and he's done a design that, God willing, when we're able to finish it is going to be truly iconic." 

A wide range of distinguished architects and creative talents also paid tribute to Adjaye, including Theaster Gates, Moshe Safdie, Lesley Lokko, Balkrishna Doshi, and 2020 Gold Medal winners Shelly McNamara and Yvonne Farrel of Grafton Architects. 

"Architecture is a silent language that speaks," said Farrel. "Your work embraces the civic component of architecture, your work speaks of challenge with a strong, urban and social remit, David. This award is truly merited."

In his speech, Adjaye spoke about how his practice, Adjaye Associates, which he founded in 2000, came out of his frustration with the architecture industry. "I barely saw anyone of my same skin color in the room," he said. "And so I just very quickly felt that I needed to chart a different path. From day one, it was about always wanting to be in control and to have the freedom of my own destiny."

Adjaye called on architects to embrace diversity to make a better world saying, “There is a generation which has the opportunity to remake the world, and that is a renaissance. The younger generation coming up have an opportunity to define what the built environment is going to be about for future generations.”