Francis Kéré received a standing ovation at the Design Indaba 2011 Conference earlier this year - see why. His amazing presentation shows how this architect from Burkino Faso improved lives of fellow villagers from Gando (his rural home village) by building a school. He formed an ngo and raised $50 000 dollars to build the school. While Western aid agencies and well meaning donors construct buildings using materials like concrete, these fail after a few rainy seasons in West Africa. Kéré's use of natural, local materials (clay), local skills and intelligent design results in beautiful buildings that communities are proud of. African architecture should stop copying the West, engage the real needs of the people and regard the environment, says Kéré.