THE BOOK THIEF

Book by Markus Zusak

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A conceptual project.  I reset Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief in Damasak, Nigeria in 2015. At the time the Boko Haram (whose name means ‘western education is sin’) was burning schools & books in Nigeria and kidnapping young girls. Our main character, Adaora finds solace in stealing books and sharing them with others. In the compound of her home, a runaway teenage militant is being protected & hidden by her adoptive parents. 

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For my design I focused on highlighting the socio-economic imbalance of the conflict and how the poorer parts of Damasak were more affected. Choosing traditional Nigerian Hausa architecture for Adaora’s home, and more modern, westernized Islamic architecture for the Shehu’s (mayor’s) home and library.

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