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
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
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
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
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
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A present photograh of the Benin walls, credit: world monument fund
credit: live science
credit: pinterest
Mbari shrine, credit: pinterest
credit: Micoope
Gando primary school credit: archdaily
credit: alamy
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
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
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
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 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
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.
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