AFRICAN MONUMENTS The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, is a monumental Catholic church, recognized as the largest Christian church in the world, surpassing St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Commissioned by Côte d'Ivoire’s first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, it was designed by Ivorian architect Pierre Fakhoury and constructed between 1985 and 1989, with its consecration by Pope John Paul II in 1990. The basilica blends European Renaissance and Baroque influences with African elements. Its dome and plaza echo St. Peter’s, but the structure incorporates local cultural aesthetics, such as colorful stained-glass tableaux. The building uses advanced materials like alabaster for light diffusion and includes modern amenities like elevators and air conditioning. The basilica embodies Côte d'Ivoire’s post-independence aspirations under Houphouët-Boigny, who sought to elevate the nation’s global standing. By building a structure larger than St. Peter’s, it challenges Eurocentric notions of architectural supremacy, asserting African capability and ambition. #cotedivoire🇨🇮