TASTY IGBO DISHES

Growing up as an Igbo girl gave me the golden opportunity to savour lots of dishes. Whether at home, restaurants or even at occasions ranging from big to small, Igbo dishes are so mouth-watering and yummy that even the after taste makes you want to go for more. I’m going to be sharing pictures of delicious Igbo delicacies and the ingredients which are mostly responsible for their tastiness. A lot of Igbo delicacies contain rich amount of cellulose and fibre (courtesy of the different green vegetables in our soups), carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, etc. You’ll learn a lot more of these as I show you in the list I arranged below.

1. Abacha

 

Image: Abacha dish  Source: Sisi Jemimah

It is a popular Igbo dish made from Cassava tubers. It is peeled, boiled and grated into fine thin slices before they are dried under the sun and packaged for sales. When you buy them in bulk, all you have to do is get the quantity you need and soak them in hot water before you set it aside. Next is to get a bowl and mix palm oil, dried peppers or fresh peppers, crayfish, ugiri (locust bean), salt or maggi before they are mixed together with the Abacha after which you serve with any vegetable of your choice mostly with garden eggs or leaf, onions, fried fish or ponmo (cow skin) depending on your choice.

2. Ofe oha

 

Image: Ofe oha  Source: Dooney's kitchen

When you hear the term “Ofe”, it means soup in Igbo language so saying Ofe oha is the same thing as saying oha soup. Oha is the vegetable used in this dish but the method of preparation is just the same as Ofe Onugbu which is the next dish I’ll be talking about. Ofe oha is a tasty Igbo soup that is prepared by boiling your proteins,mostly beef or goat meat with mainly crayfish, pepper and salt for taste. As they are boiling, you can include your stock fish and offals. Depending on the quantity you want, you can add more water to the broth before adding palm oil. Please note that if you are using fresh akwu, make sure to boil it separately till it cooks before adding the stock. By then your ede (coco yam) is boiled and pounded till it draws. After the soup cooks for a while, you add the ede and allow it melt before you add salt or maggi for taste of beer be then you wash your veggies and put them in the soup to give you that stunning beauty you see in the picture above.

3. Ofe Onugbu

         Image: Ofe onugbu  Source: Dooney's kitchen

Just like Ofe oha, ofe onugbu has exactly the same recipe as the former. The only difference is the vegetables. Onugbu is the Igbo name for bitter leaf. Asides using it to prepare soup, it can be used to treat malaria/fever. For none Igbos, you’ll be wondering how the soup would be delicious since it is called bitter leaf soup. When the leaves are harvested from the plant and plucked. You wash them till the leaf no longer tastes bitter.

4. Okpa

          Image: Okpa  Source: Lyndishes kitchen

I’m sure when you research about Igbo dishes you must have seeing this dish on the internet. The main ingredient of this lovely dish is made from Bambara nuts which must be washed, dried and friended before packaging to sell. After you’ve bought your grinded bambara nut, all you have to do is g wet your palm oil and mix it till it becomes an orange powder. After that, you add water to the mixed powder until you get the required consistency you need. After that you add salt to taste. Some people do put maggi in place of salt but ensure it’s not too salty. Pepper also takes the flavour of this dish to another level but it can either be much or minimal depending on personal preference. Onions and crayfish are also optional too. After mixing, the mixture can be packed into washed banana leaves or aluminum tins before they are steamed. When it’s hardened, you turn of your cooker and serve with hot tea, coffee, pap or custard depending on your choice.

5. Ukpaka

          Image: Ugba/ukpaka  Source: Royac shop

Ugba/ukpaka also known as African oil bean is another tasty Igbo dish I love so much. It can either be used as a desert or full meal. It can be eaten with Abacha, mostly mixed with palm oil,pepper,crayfish and salt. It can be used to cook vegetable yam pottage ( yam means ji in Igbo language) with spinach. It can also be made into sauce used to eat yam or roasted plantains (ripe or unripe). The sauce can be made by first heating the palm oil before frying the onions,pepper and crayfish. Then after sometime you add salt or maggi for taste before adding the ugba. After this, you add your fermented ugba and stir for a while. After that, you add your washed utazi leaves. Serve with roasted yam or plantain and step down with sweet fresh palm wine.

6. Ukwa

Ukwa, is another tasty Igbo dish made into either porridge (the yellowish porridge as seen above) or drank with water from boiling it (the one in the smaller plate). Ukwa is the Igbo name for bread fruit which is harvested from the big round fruit before it is packaged and sold. There are different ways we prepare Ukwa in ala Igbo of which I know of three. Others may know of four or five methods but I’ll quickly explain three. The one you see in the smaller bowl is called mmiri ukwa which means bread fruit water in English. The Ukwa seeds are selected to check for stones or any other inedible objects before they are washed thoroughly in water and put in the pot. What gives it this ash colour is the use of potash which must be stired and drained with a sieve to prevent the food from being sandy. You can sieve about two or three times to ensure you know what you’re doing before you pour it into the Ukwa to cook. More water can still be added to ensure it doesn’t burn. The potash helps to soften the ukwa and help it cook faster. After it’s done boiling, the water is usually seperated from the Ukwa to avoid it being too soft and melting. Also some people may like to eat it without drinking the water. Some may like to serve it with the water. For the porridge, some of the already drained Ukwa should be transferred to another pot after which you turn on the cooker. You add boiled corn seeds, maggi/salt, pepper and some blended uziza seeds before adding palm oil. Turn it very well before serving just like the image above. The last method is just like the porridge Ukwa but has more of water in it. It’s cooked the same way we cook porridge beans only that you add some stock fish and dry fish to it. The Ukwa is boiled without potash this time around. After that, you fry some onions into a pot of heated oil,add maggi and pepper, then you add the ukwa and mix with maggi cubes or salt for taste, serve and enjoy your yummy dish with palm wine or any other favourite drink of your choice.

7. Akidi

         Image: Akidi  Source: global food book

Akidi, as seen above can also be referred to as black beans in Igbo language. It can be prepared with various methods and can be combined with carbonhydrates like yam, rice and even Abacha. In the picture above, it was prepared like porridge beans where the Akidi is first boiled and drained to remove the dark water from the beans, after which boiled yam,pepper, onions, salt/maggi and palm oil are added before mixing very well to give a yummy and appetizing dish as seeing in the picture. In some cases, ugba is included into the dish to elevate the taste of the dish. Eating this dish often can provide you with carbohydrates, proteins, fibre, etc.

8. Fio fio

         Image: fio fio  Source: Loria's kitchen

Fio fio is the Igbo name for pigeon pea. From the image, it looks very much like beans and can as well be cooked like porridge beans either with yam or plantains depending on preferences. From the previous dishes i explained earlier, i belive you know how we prepare most of our leguminous plants into porridge. Don't forget your major ingredients..........yes, you're right. You need your onions, pepper, maggi/salt, yam tuber, fio fio and palm oil. It can be served with garri or pap, custard, oats, etc.

9. Ofe nsala

         Image: ofe nsala  Source: sisi Jemimah

The next dish on our list is ofe nsala. Its a very easy soup to make and does not take time like the ofe oha and ofe onugbu. All you need is to get catfish, stock fish, dry fish, crayfish, uziza leaves, yam, ugiri or okpei depending on your preference, pepper, salt/maggi for flavour. The stock fish is hard which is why it must be boiled till it softens, after which you add the cat fish. The cat fish must be washed, scraped and cut into the preferred sizes before boiling with the stock fish. After that, the pepper can be added. After a few minutes, the ugiri or blended okpei can be added. Some people do add blended uziza seeds for more flavour. The yams should be boiled till they are soft then be put into a mortar to pound until they start having a drawy texture. After that, you scoop the yam with a spoon from the mortar little by little until they are all in the soup. Note that all the catfish must be taken out of the soup after boiling to avoid it from scattering. The purpose of the yam (ji) is the same reason why ede (cocoyam) is used in the two previous soups i mentioned earlier. To thicken the soup. After the yam melts and the soup thickens, You add the washed uziza leaves which are most often very few in number. Unlike other Igbo soups, ofe nsala doesn't require much vegetable leaves. After that, you add your dry fish and then the catfish and turn off your cooker. Ready to serve!! serve with any swallow of your choice.

10. Ofe akwu

 Now we move to another interesting dish of ndi Igbo. Ofe akwu. Akwu is the Igbo name for palm fruit. If you observe, we cook most of our meals with palm oil. Palm oil is processed from palm fruit which is usually harvested from the palm bunch that grows on a palm tree. What you will do is to boil the quantity of palm oil you need. After that, you get your mortar and pestle and pound until the outer skin is removed and all you'll see is the fibre and endocarp of the fruit. After that, you add water and until you filter all the pulp from the palm nut. After that, you put it on fire and boil it till you see oil floating on top. By then, you would have bouled your beef/goat meat/fish (depending on choice) with some onions, pepper and cray fish until its ready. After that you add your boiled protein into the already boiled palm nut paste and add your okpei or dawadawa (locust bean) spice. Make sure to blend your okpei spice with crayfish and add to the already boiling ofe akwu. I know you saw dawadawa earlier on. It is actually the same thing as okpei but in Hausa language just as locust bean is the English name. While your kitchen is filled with the aroma, make sure you wash your rice, parboil and rewash. If you don't have help then make sure you cook your ofe akwu on the lowest heat of your cooker but i you can't cope, finish with the ofe akwu before you boil your rice. The last step is to add your washed and sliced scent leaf into the meal and tada...... Food is ready!!! Serve with hot boiled rice and chilled mineral, juice or as usual, sweet freshly tapped palm wine from the palm tree (sadly only our people that reside in Nigeria or any other African country can access this, our diaspora people can enjoy other drinks they have in the countries they reside in).

11. Ofe owerri

          Image: Ofe owerri  Source: All Nigerian recipes

Ofe owerri is one of those interesting and tasty dishes we have in ala Igbo (Igbo land) but is eaten mostly by owerri people from Imo state. Just like how we prepare meat before we cook the soup with the broth, this soup is also no different. Cocyam which we all know is ede in Igbo language is boiled, peeled and pounded till it has a drawy texture. By the time the meat is boiled, you add your stock fish, dry fish and snails to boil. Make sure you have also added more water to the soup by then. Add salt or maggi for taste, add some ugiri and boil. After that, you add your cocoyam and let it thicken the soup. After that you add your washed and chopped uziza (piper guineense) and ugwu (pumpkin leaves) and soup is ready. Serve with any swallow of your choice.

12. Ofe achara

          Image: ofe achara  Source: all Nigerian recipes

Ofe achara as the name goes is eaten by Igbos mainly in Abia state. It can also be known as elephant grass soup as that is the main vegetable used in its preparation. It is prepared just like egwusi soup or ofe egwusi, only that, you will need to mould the egwusi which is what we call akpuruakpu egwusi (moulded egwusi). Stock fish and dry fish are the main protein needed to prepare this dish. They must both be deboned at all times before usage. The dry fish and stock fish are usually soaked in hot water to soften it while the egusi mould is prepared by blending the fresh egusi (melon) seeds in a blender (use the one for dry things) till you get a pwdery egusi. After that, you take some out and spice it with okpei and crayfish before adding water until it forms into a dough, after which you begin to mould it into flat shapes. The remaining egusi can be fried in heated palm oil while the stock fish and dry fish cook seperately which can still be spiced with okpei, crayfish and salt/maggi to taste. After that, the stock is added to the fried egusi and allowed to cook for a while. After this, the akpuruakpu is added to the soup and while its cooking, you get your okazi leaf ready. After they are washed and chopped, you add it into the soup and stir before serving. As always, remember to serve with any swallow of your choice.

13. Isi ewu/nkwobi

         Image: Isiewu/nkwobi  Source: All Nigerian recipes

Yes......i know i made a big mistake, lol. I should have even put this as the first because this dish is one of the most important dishes in ala Igbo because any major event you attended, you must eat nkwobi and isi ewu wether as an appetizer or full meal depending on the quantity you can eat but this meal must be included. Anywhere you see people eating this, there must surely be palm wine to step it down except the person prefers other drinks or the occasion took place in the diaspora (i mean our brothers and sisters that are based overseas). I put Isi ewu and nkwobi becuse they are practically the same in terms of preparation but what differs is the use of protein. That of nkwobi can be prepared with cow foot while isi ewu is known as goat head (isi is head and ewu is goat) in English. Firstly, the protein (isi ewu and cow foot) are chopped into pieces and boiled with some salt and onions till they are very soft, after which they are set aside. Then in a bowl, you mix palm oil and drained potash, ngu. Remember i explained it in the making of ukwa. After that, you mix them together to give you a thick paste, then you go ahead to spice it with your ehu (calabash nutmeg) seeds, salt and pepper and mix it thoroughly. After that, you mix your protein into the already mixed paste and heat it till its hot. Usually, its served in a small wooden plate like you see in the picture above but if you don't have it no problem. What is more important is, you have a lovely dish you are about to enjoy, so enjoy buddy!!!

14. Swallow (akpu)

Image: Akpu  Source: All Nigerian recipes

Akpu!!!!

Lots of people also refer to it as fufu, santana or loi loi but akpu is the Igbo name for it. Before i explain how it is prepared, you recall i always mention swallow to be paired with all the soups i talked about. Swallow is a general term referring to food formed into mould usually shaped in spherical forms. They can be made out of different food crops such as yam, cassava, potato and grains such as oatmeal and wheatmeal. These crops are the raw materials while the swallows are the finished products. There are may others which are eaten by other ethnic groups in Nigeria just like akpu is eaten by ndi Igbo. It is made out of cassava tubers which are fermented before pounding depending on the specie. Some cassava species can be washed, boiled and pounded without fermentation but some species require fermentation before they are safe for eating because of cyanide poison. Akpu can be eaten with any soup of your choice and washed down with water....yeah!!! not every time drink, lol. Drink water!!! like aproko doctor would say.

15. Agidi

Image: Agidi and peppersoup  Source: All Nigerian recipes

Another native dish the Igbos love to enjoy on a good, normal sometimes rainy or cold day is agidi. Agidi is made out of corn which is usually blended and sieved after which the sieved corn is allowed to settle for a while. Later on, the corn starch is settled beneath the water which is the drained out. After that, you heat your corn starch into a pot and keep stirring till it thickens. Next is to scoop them into washed banana leaves before being folded and left to cool. Earlier on i mentioned that agidi is mostly eaten on rainy days and that's because it is mostly eaten with hot pepper soup which provides warmth to the body. It is also very good for sick patients and nursing mothers to help with breast milk production. From the image you can notice an inclusion of assorted meat with blended pepper and some chopped scent leaves. Pepper soup spice is usually added to give it that signature taste that makes someone know that yes!!! This is pepper soup. Pepper soup is a very easy dish to cook and can be eaten with carbohydrates like agidi (corn starch), boiled yam and rice or minerals like unripe plantains. All these ensure you are getting a range of nutrients and balanced diet. Before i go let me help aproko doctor pass his message, drink water!!! But me i'll say don't over drink o cos too much of everything can kill. Please, drink what your belly can take and when you're full, you relax. Thank you so much for reading to the end, i'm grateful for your time.

AFRICAN ARCHITECTURE: WHY WE MUST REVITALIZE ANCIENT AFRICAN ARCHITECTURE

Housing is one of the most important assets and business venture for man today. From the beginning of time, there has always been a need to seek shelter from harsh weather conditions and Africa as a continent, has never been exempt from that. Africa is a very diverse continent ranging from our appearance (skin tone) to cultural beliefs to food to dressing to religion to music to arts to technology. In this topic, i will make more emphasis on arts and technology which is basically architecture. This topic will shed more light on ancient African architecture and why it needs to be preserved for the future generations. Architecture is basically a combination of science and technology and honestly, even a glance at ancient African architecture fits that description appropriately. Sadly, African architecture is still lurking in the dark, waiting for the day it will finally be recognized, appreciated and well utilized just as much African music, fashion, food and even hairstyles which are being given deserved recognition by mainstream media.

                                                                 source: highbrow

 Africa as a continent has been through crisis for centuries of which the major influence on our continent is colonization which still has its remnants on Africans today. This is why there is more focus on Eurocentric Architecture instead of Afrocentric architecture. From here it spreads like a ripple effect and enters the construction industry and people do not even see the need to be creative in Afrocentric architecture. What we see are more of buildings designed with neoclassical or gothic architectural styles, baroque and other modernist western styles. Unfortunately, in some African countries where corruption is the order of the day, building regulations and policies are mostly not adhered which is actually disastrous in the long run. That is why we see building collapse, dilapidated buildings, too many slums, too many concrete jungles and drastic deforestation. We hardly even respect nature while designing which is why the current heat wave especially in countries in Nigeria is not surprising anymore. Our ancestors even respected and preserved nature way more than we did and even the whites we copy from still have laws that protect their environment. 

Old African architectural designs blended easily with nature and are very eco-friendly. How about we create our own identity? When are we going to think towards accepting our old design styles and even creating new ones that will give us our own identity and work with our climate? It is a lot of work but it can be done. Our professionals can sometimes sit back and be more creative with public buildings, monuments, parks which are usually good for tourist attraction. It will give the architect more recognition, attract tourists which will generate revenue for the nation overtime, cause gentrification as a result of job opportunities being created by our creativity. Our professionals can as well go into academics and teach people Afrocentric Architectural history and designs. For me, i will always lead by example to show that i take our awareness and collective improvement as Africans very seriously which is why i will provide a long list of old African architecture and their history and give you modern African architectural designs to get some inspiration.

                                       OLD AFRICAN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS

The following are old structures found in Africa which were built centuries ago either for residential, commercial, educational or religious purposes.

1. The great mosque of Djenne

                                                                        credit: reddit

This beautiful masterpiece is located in Mali and is said to have been built around the 1200s or            1300s. History has it that the structure was once the palace of a sultan Kunburu who converted his palace to a mosque after becoming a muslim. Later on, his successors would go ahead to add the towers and fence surrounding the edifice. By the early 1800s, the mosque was left for ruins with termites making the building their home until it was reconstructed in the year 1906 and completed in the year 1907 with the use of forced labour. The building materials consists of sun-baked earth bricks, sand and earth-based mortar with which plaster has been used as a coat to give the walls a smooth finish. The sticks you see at the tower of the building are called the rodier palms which have been used as an ornament and scaffolding for maintenance. What i find very intriguing is that asides the building being a worship centre, the building maintenance is said to occur during an annual festival where the women fetch water for the workmen while the men climb the top of the buildings and plaster the entire walls. This act alone shows how architecture fosters a sense of peace and unity within the people of a nation.

2. Timbuktu university

                                                             credit: Jambo Africa online

                          

The university of Timbuktu is an ancient academic facility located in the city of Timbuktu currently known as Mali. It was built by Mansa Musa who ruled Timbuktu from 1307-1332. After returning from pilgrimage from Mecca, he hired architects to help establish mosques and universities which explains why Timbuktu saw a lot of development during his rule. The university is made up of three mosques which are namely, sankore, sidi Yahya and Djinguereber and have been major contributors to Islamic and Academic studies for centuries. 

3. Egyptian pyramids

                                                                 credit: heritage daily

The Egyptian pyramids are said to be the last of the seven wonders of the world dating back to over 2000 years since construction. These magnificent buildings are so tall and huge that till today, some people believe they weren't built by human beings due to the lack of technological advancement at that time compared to today. The first pyramid was said to be designed by Imhotep by stacking smaller stones on top of each other while creating steps gradually. Ancient Egyptian architecture has been studied for centuries across the world due to the technology and intellect that goes into the designs and decorations. Asides the great pyramids, there are also huge statues of pharaohs usually sculpted near the pyramids. It is said that there are over a hundred Egyptian pyramids in Egypt which have mostly served as burial grounds or graves for dead pharaohs (king). This is why we do see archaelogists bring out a 'mummy' from the casket where a dead pharaoh has been buried for so many centuries. A mummy can be referred to as a corpse that has been embalmed with chemicals, then wrapped with a clothe before been buried. Usually, the vital organs are removed and stored before the corpse is mummified and buried. All pyramids you see in Egypt are not of the same height as some range from 43m to 65m to 75m and some even over a 100m. The materials used for this magnificent structure mostly consist of white limestone, granite, sand and even special stones which were transported and cut into different sizes. Usually, the foundations are in the shape of a square, before the pyramid is built. The cultural significance is that asides the fact that the Egyptians believed the shape of the pyramid depicted the sun's descending rays, they also believed the pyramids should serve as a means of launching the soul of a dead pharaoh back to be with the gods.

4. The church of saint George

                                                                  credit: wikipedia

The church of saint George is located in a town called Lalibela, Ethiopia. Ethiopia is one of the earliest African nations to adopt Christianity. Some of these churches just like the church of saint George were built long before the white missionaries spread Christianity during colonialism as some of them date back to the 7th century. This church's architecture is very interesting as it adopts monolithic architecture. Monolithic buildings are usually cut or carved from large rocks or stones. The town of Lalibela is a very hilly town beautified with rocks. It was a very brilliant idea to design along with nature instead of destroying the natural landscape of the land. The building is literally inside the rock but a space has been hewn to create passageways for tourists/visitors. The building mimics Aksum architecture which is also native to Ethiopia as well. Today, the building has become a tourist attraction for people all over the world who want to learn about the rich traditions of Ethiopians and the impact of early Christianity in Ethiopia.

5. Nsude pyramids

                                                           credit: Igbo history museum

Located in Udi, Enugu state, Nigeria, the Nsude pyramids are one of our cherished monuments that is barely talked about. The Nsude pyramids were said to be about 40 feet tall and they had a circular base compared to the square based pyramids of Egypt. They were constructed with materials like red mud, cow dung and clay. Although a particular date is unknown, the Nsude pyramids were said to have lasted centuries till a white missionary named as G.I Jones took photographs of it in the mid 1930s. The pyramids were said to be numbered up to ten and built for surveillance in case of war between neighbouring communities. From the 1930s till now, the Nsude pyramids have seeing a gradual decay and deterioration as the coming of colonialism led the people to relocate to urban areas mainly for educational and job opportunities. There has been lots of deliberation to develop it in recent times which will not only serve as a cultural heritage site but generate revenue for the Igbo people.

6. Benin moat

            

                An old sketch of Benin city sketch drawn by in 1897, credit: disappointed

                tourist

            
                  A present photograh of the Benin walls, credit: world monument fund

The Benin moat also known as "Iyanuwo" is a very interesting topic honestly being that it reminds me of my secondary school days in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria. The Benin moat is a very interesting architectural masterpiece that describes the great walls built during the time of Ogiso rulers in Benin to protect the Benin people from invaders. It was said to be constructed around 800AD till 1460AD which is approximately a 600 year period. The walls were constructed with earth and spanned up to 16,000km with about nine gates for controlled access to the kingdom. The walls were still in great condition and serving their purpose until the British invaded the kingdom, setting it on fire after some British soldiers were initially stopped from trying to invade the magnificent city by bodyguards. One of the soldiers reported to his superiors and some British troops sent their army to invade and destroy the kingdom. Through this sad incident, resources and artefacts were looted but the walls were really damaged after the catastrophe and not well maintained which is why they are in ruins today. Although i'm not sure about the government plans to restore the moats, i personally think it will be a good idea to rebuild those walls and controlled access gates which is even much better in this day and age of technology. This means the nine gates can be designed as toll gates with cctv cameras installed to strengthen security within the city. Imagine restoring the tall earthen walls this time around with advanced technology (machinery) which will end up becoming a tourist attraction for the people of Benin city thereby generating revenue for the state and its occupants just like great walls of China. In the year 1668, a Dutch writer by the name Olfert Dapper wrote about the Benin kingdom based on the account of Dutch travellers that explored and travelled across Africa mentioned that the walls of Benin were four times longer than the great walls of China. In the year 1974, the Guiness book of world records named the walls of the Benin as the second largest man-made structure following the great walls of China. Regardless of world recognition or not, there are lots of opportunities that have been untapped from the restoration of this great wall. 

7. Great Zimbabwe

                                                                     credit: live science

The great Zimbabwe was a stone city that was built by the Shona people and existed between 10th and 15th century AD before it was left for ruins. It is currently located in the country of Zimbabwe and has become a tourist attraction overtime. This particular building was said to be a palace to the king of the Shona people and the word 'great' was used to distinguish this building from the other smaller stone structures located within the ancient city which is why there is great Zimbabwe (palace) and Zimbabwe (small buildings). Zimbabwe is a Shona name translated to mean, houses of stone. The houses were said to have walls that measure up to 11 metres in height. As seen in the image, the stones were built without mortar which i find very interesting because in modern day (masonry) construction, mortar is a very important building material used in binding blocks together and plastering the surface afterwards. For the great Zimbabwe, the masonry blocks are mortarless but fortunately, they are still strong and sitting in their original location just the way the Shona people left it. From the image, one can see that the stones are stacked together with little gaps between them and built into nice conical shapes, reaching a height of 11 meters which is quite tall. The introduction of mortar into masonry construction is also a commendable development in the construction industry and we have our skilled artisans (bricklayers) to thank for that but the fact that an ancient stone masonry structure in Zimbabwe, Africa constructed without mortar stood for several centuries shows the high intelligence and capabilities of Africans and the great innovative ideas we can contribute when we channel our gifts into good use. I hope to do a more detailed study of this building sometime in the future.

8. Igbo traditional thatched roofed homes

                                                                      credit: pinterest

                                                          Mbari shrine, credit: pinterest

Igbo thatched homes are traditional homes of the Igbo people of south-eastern part of Nigeria. They were built mostly during the precolonial and colonial era. The buildings are very interesting with beautiful facades mostly in form of motifs drawn on the surface of the walls. The walls are mostly constructed with mud while the roofs are roofed with thatch roofs mostly made up of straw, water reeds or palm fronds. Our ancestors have always been smart enough to understand that man has to be protected from harsh weather conditions which is what inspired them to cover the buildings thereby providing shelter/shade and even aesthestics to the building. The doors to the building are small requiring one to bend before going into the building. Another interesting aspect to look at is how culture and spiritual beliefs inspire the aesthetics and building plan of the houses that my ancestors lived in. Some of the houses were usually arranged within a compound with which the walls have been fenced with mud. One gets into the compound through a gate before getting into a compound with different houses arranged within the compound. For spiritual beliefs, on getting into lots of Igbo homes those days, you will see a mound of earth in front of the compound where an Igbo man can pour libations and honour his chi (God/guardian angel) and ndi ichie (ancestors) anytime he wishes to. I know i mentioned it before but i can't help but admire the beautiful motifs (Pattern of designs or drawings). They add so much beauty to our traditional buildings and i really wish that most of our fathers, uncles and brothers will consider choosing more traditional styles but the fear of been stereotyped as 'poor' for choosing creativity won't allow some of us explore our ancient architecture anymore but we can change it. Change we can, change we must. All we need is more creativity from Igbo architects like me to start looking back at our ancient technology and even upgrade it and we make a change.

9. Foumban palace

                                                                        credit: Micoope

Another interesting African architectural wonder is the Foumban palace located at Cameroon. The image above was taken in the year 1907. The man standing in the photograph is believed to be Sultan Ibrahim Njoya who was the king of Bamum people between the ages of 1895 to 1923. The ancient kingdom is said to be located at the northwest part of Cameroon. The palace was said to have housed nearly three thousand people which explains how large the palace was. The roof was constructed with thatched roof (made up of straw, water reeds or palms), the walls were made up of palm ribs plastered with clay. What interests me the most is the high columns made up of sculptures which also serve as decorative ornaments that give the building a very beautiful aesthetic. Interestingly, the part of the palace the ornamental columns face is where the courtyard is located where the people can socialize, cook and engage in fun activities. I sincerely do hope that someday, the natives of Bamum kingdom will reconsider revitalizing this wonderful masterpiece.

                                      MODERN AFRICAN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS

Now that we've studied ancient African architecture, we are going to be taking a look at how they have been revitalized in modern times which is the point of the discussion and i would like to discuss the works of Burkinabe-German architect, Diebedo Francis Kere. Francis Kere was born in the village of Gando, Burkina Faso on the 10th of April, 1965. Francis Kere left his village to pursue his education in the city at the age of seven after which he was sent to Germany for apprenticeship. Later on, he studied architecture at Technical university of Berlin and graduated in the year, 2004. In the late 90s, Francis Kere set up Kere foundation with the help of his friends of which his main objective was to use his knowledge and expertise to contribute positively to his society. Over the years, he has done a very good job as he is the brain behind the first school project in his village ever as well as several other buildings which are very innovative and unique to his style and have won him international awards overseas. Let's take a look at his buildings to learn as much as we can.

1. Gando primary & secondary school

                                                    Gando primary school credit: archdaily

                                                 Gando secondary school credit: Iwan Baan

Driven by passion to develop his village, Kere was inspired to design the first school in his village as he wasn't privileged to school in the village during his formative years leading him to move to the city with his uncle. Many years later, he begins a primary school project which would later be completed in 2001. Kere made sure to source for locally available materials such as earth (mud bricks) as they were not only cheaper but provided thermal comfort. The roof of the building was raised to protect the walls from rain and provide air circulation into the classrooms. This made the design tick the box for innovation, creativity and sustainability thereby earning him the aga khan award for architecture in the year 2004. Just like the primary school, he also adopted the same principles and innovative ideas as well as the same material, earth. The school was said to be designed for a thousand students. As much as there are similarities between both projects, their layouts differentiate them as the primary school building is a simple rectangular structure while the secondary school adopts the traditional housing style in Burkina Faso inspiring Kere to create a courtyard with the classroom designed in a circular shape. To top it all, his idea for the mango project helped sensitize the villagers to see great importance in trees and participate in planting them so as to help curb the deforestation problem in Burkina Faso. Just like the primary school project, the secondary school project earned him the Holcim award for sustainable construction in the year 2012.

2. Serpentine gallery pavillion

                                                                   credit: alamy

The serpentine pavillion is located at London's Kensington gardens, London. The serpentine pavillion project was funded by the serpentine gallery which is popularly known for art, architecture, design and performance exhibitions. The pavillion was designed by Francis Kere and constructed in the year, 2017. Francis Kere designed the roof such that it mimics the tree which he explained is a meeting point in Gando village where he hails from. The roof is designed such that it is round and circular but falls into the middle in order to create this waterfall effect during precipitation and help drain water from the roofs into the underground pipes. The walls are said to be illuminated at night which gives the building beautiful aesthetic and provides light for those who visit the pavillion in the evenings.

3. Centre for earth architecture, Mopti, Mali

                                                                   

                                                                 credit: archiDATUM

The centre for earth architecture was a part of a series of projects funded by the Aga Khan trust for culture which has been responsible for the renovation of mosques in Mali. The project which was built for an exhibition space containing a community center, restaurant, exhibition halls and toilets was finished in the year, 2010. Initially, i talked about the Djenne mosque with regards to old African architectural heritage little did i know that this project sits close to the Djenne mosque. Francis Kere being the brilliant architect he is, designed the building in such a way that it would not overshadow the Djenne mosque which is meant to be the center of attention for tourists. For this reason, the building height was lowered to fit that of the rest of the buildings in the community. In his usual fashion, Francis Kere went for local materials such as compressed earth blocks which he used for the walls and vaults to ease thermal comfort. The roofs were also raised to cool the walls and ensure air circulation within the building which made the users of the facility not to require mechanical ventilation.

From all the information given, i sincerely hope you get to read this write up passionately in your free time in order to understand the points i made. Thank you for your time as always.

Source: google.com

KUMASI FORT AND MILITARY MUSEUM, KUMASI, ASHANTI REGION, GHANA

 

Kumasi fort and military museum. Author’s picture taken in March 2023

The Kumasi military museum is located in the city of Kumasi, Ashanti region of Ghana. To easily access this building, take a commercial bus or Uber to Adum central business district and just ask the locals to help you locate the building.

The Kumasi fort and military museum was built by the king of Ashanti kingdom (traditionally called the Asantehene), Osei Tutu Kwamina in the year 1820 to mimic the castles built by the colonialists. It was built with materials such as brown soil and granite.

From medals to guns/weapons, amour tanks, maps, helmets, cutlery, jackets and others, a tour around this historical building will provide you with credible information about life in colonial Ghana precisely Ashanti kingdom and most importantly, world war 2. I was told about how soldiers from Ghana were trained by the colonial masters and were sent to fight during World War Two (1939-1945).

From the photographs I’ll attach here, you’ll get to understand about war times, how the colonials chose soldiers, trained them and how they made use of weapons given to them. Another thing that stood out to me was the discrimination of blacks during the colonial times and second world war era. Another interesting story I couldn’t forget in a hurry was the life and times of Queen mother of the Ashanti kingdom, Nana Yaa Asantewaa. Though her life was not detailed in the tour, I found out she was imprisoned in that building after refusing to yield to the British forces on account of the golden stool.

Observation point. Image Taken by author.

A view of the building showing the observation point of the building and the

 street behind it

Armored tanks placed in front of the museum.

The stairway to accessing the observation point.

The passageway to the courtyard within the facility.

One of the rooms used by the soldiers back then which has now been 

converted to a museum to store old relics.

This room was used to jail people who were “disobedient” to their masters,

 including queen mother of Ejisu town, Nana Yaa Asantewaa.

The room where queen mother, Nana Yaa Asantewaa and other prisoners 

were jailed. When locked in here for a long time, one could go blind due to

 many weeks of being in darkness. 

The door that leads to the prison where queen mother, Nana Yaa Asantewaa 

was jailed.

This tall object was used to measure the height of prospective soldiers by the 

British colonialists before being recruited into the military. The soldiers were 

said to be mainly people from Tamale as the Ashantis were shorter in height.

The metal objects shown in this picture are actually the old locks that were 

used over a hundred years back before they were changed to modern locks

 and keys.

One of the old maps used at the time of the war during the colonial era in 

Ghana (formerly called Gold Coast)

Old medals worn by soldiers during the colonial era and world war.

ARE YOU MANAGING OR JUST MICING?

 We live in a world where people are mostly moved by sentiments so we tend to miss the logical aspect of situations. I’m not the custodian of knowledge, actually no one is except the creator, but i believe sharing my views can help people reason better on this topic.

Firstly, we have to define what we mean by micing and managing. I’ll use examples to describe them. For example, you live in a country where life is tough. Inflation is rife, fuel prices are hiked, exchange rate is steadily on increase and so on and so forth. Then there’s you, an individual struggling to survive. You are being paid little to the point that even to pay for necessities such as bills, food, transport, data is a problem. Many people face this today in Nigeria except those who are lucky to get assistance from family members. Everyday you pray that one day, things will be better for you so that you won’t only afford your needs but also your wants….insatiable wants.

Ever since I was born, I have never seen anyone who doesn’t like the good things of life and at least, dream of having them but at that point, he/she can only afford what they need, even if it’s little. That way you manage what you have until you make it. That is the way people manage themselves so even if you see them, I’m not so good or worn out clothes, don’t think they don’t want to better their lives. Things are very hard for them. Think about it friend.

Then there’s the opposite of what has been described. Let me even continue from that example. So, you finally make it, you eventually marry and start a family but………The house is in bad condition, same as the car. The food stuffs are not enough. Neither do your children nor you and your wife dress good at least. The children’s school fees are yet to be paid but you’re a millionaire businessman with huge money sitting in your account. Your wife finds out and asks you why you deliberately deny your family at least a comfortable life and you say it’s because you suffered so much for the money, so you don’t want it to waste…..hmm very laughable. Since you acknowledged you suffered and you know how difficult it was, why punish yourself and your family, now that you are comfortable?

You are a MICER!!!

THE BEAUTY OF AFRICAN CITIES

 Africa is a beautiful continent just like any other continent worldwide which all have one thing in common. The good, the bad and the ugly. In the media especially the western media, you get to see just the ugly sides of Africa but as Africans, we owe ourselves and our descendants the duty to portray our image in a good light because no one will EVER do it. Never depend on anyone to tell your stories, do it yourself!!!

That is why I will be inspiring everyone through my write ups to portray the image of black people in good light for our collective benefit. Here is a list of beautiful African cities you must see so that in case you hop on a flight tomorrow, you will know where to relax and have so much fun.

1. Victoria, Seychelles

Imagine coming here on a trip, relaxing in a luxury resort and basically just having fun with nature.

2. Johannesburg, South Africa

Would you like to charter a flight all the way to Johannesburg to experience the beautiful and busy city? I know you will.

3. Accra, Ghana

Enjoy the peaceful warmth of the beautiful city of Accra, as well as the mausoleum and it’s sunbaked sandy beach.

4. Kigali, Rwanda

Just like every city, Kigali is vibrant and warm during the day and colorful at night. 

5. Kampala, Uganda

Beautiful city with peace loving and hospitable people. 

6. Abuja, Nigeria

Enjoy the infrastructure (fly overs) and beautiful sight of hills and mountain.

7. Cairo, Egypt

Enjoy the beautiful metropolis, the interesting but broad history, it’s beautiful architecture and have fun while at it.

8. Casablanca, Morocco

A Beautiful city with beautiful culture and landscape 

9. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Enjoy the beautiful metropolis and the beautiful historical sites.

10. Nairobi, Kenya

Beautiful city with good infrastructure and landscape. Enjoy the weather, the hospitality and food.

Just in case you will love to tour these beautiful cities in the continent of Africa, I decided to list out a number of them that would serve as hot spots for baecation, tourism, business opportunities and even migration.

Source of images: google.com