Driven by his focus on African urban issues, Issa has collaborated on local change initiatives through programs and mentoring of young architects. As an architect practicing on the continent, he aims to shed light on current challenges, as well as to offer creative solutions required for the African City of Tomorrow. The extensive experience Issa brings to this important work includes past internships at renowned firms Goly Kouassi, Devrouax and Purnell, Jean Nouvel et Cattani, and SAU Guillaume Koffi.

A recognized leader in designing the future of urban Africa, Issa is a sought-after speaker at various conferences and events such as:

•  African Leadership Network, Kigali
•  Afritekture, Munich
•  TED Talk, Arusha
•  Design INDABA, Cape Town
•  Other Desires, Columbia University, New York

Issa continues to evolve in the design world with such programs as the DAK’ART Contemporary Art Biennale laureate, and as founder of the ABIDJANOW exhibition. A globally respected designer, he recently worked with the Swedish group IKEA for their first collection by African designers, the OVERALLT collection that launched in May 2019.

Koffi & Diabaté Architects’ work has been presented internationally at the Triennale di Milano, Africa, Big Change Big Chance. Exhibitions have included the Louisiana Museum of Denmark for Africa: Architecture, Culture, Identity.

Issa is a member of Ivory Coast’s Order of Architects with which he initiated the country’s first Architecture and Building Fair, ARCHIBAT. He is a Master of Architecture graduate of Yale University, and he has been appointed Knight of the Order of Cultural Merit.