| Sumario: | African architecture has historically been subjected to variants of appropriation and materialisation with multifarious effects on identity formation. In particular, its forced engagement with colonial powers followed by relatively repressive post-colonial regimes, left legacies of multi-layered elitist and totalitarian inscriptions. This article critically reviews the ways in which Zimbabwean iconic architecture has come about and how it produces identities. It specifically considers ancient, modern and postmodern architecture namely state owned and controlled buildings, museums and monuments, statues and cityscapes. The article argues that the various forms of architectural re-figuration do not necessarily signify collective historic memorialisation, heritage preservation and national identity formation but are part of a hegemonic statecraft. It concludes that power has significantly transformed iconic architecture into memory dispositifs.
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