Is There Architecture we can call Kenyan?

During the recent exhibition of works by architecture students at the University of Nairobi, a visitor commented that the ideas on display were ‘too western’. This, probably a reaction to the strong semblance of student projects to works mainly located in countries in the West, may have been an accurate observation. However, the conclusion is what is in question.

Before applying a regional tag to architecture, some criteria must have been applied. It could be that the form, materials and technology mimic those of what can be described as traditional architecture of the region or that the architecture is located in that region.

And thus the question: would one be justified to classify architecture as ‘western’ merely because the materials, technology and even the form resembles architectural work from the west? And do we really have Dubai Architecture?