Living in an African traditional house is the dream of lots of people. How well do you know the types of traditional houses in Africa? These are pictures of all sorts of African houses inside and out.
African architecture is fascinating! Mud houses and huts, a thatched roof, courtyards and terraces make only a tiny part of what African traditional houses and structures are and have been! Here are 17 images of many types of houses in Africa.
You are going to learn about many types of houses in Africa, from pre colonial and ancient African architecture all the way to modern and African vernacular architecture.
Ulijua? – Traditional African Houses Facts
Ulijua means did you know? in Swahili so be on the look out for the FOUR fun facts in the purple text!
Inside African Traditional Houses & Structures You Can Visit | Africa house traditional
Traditional African Houses & Structures
Ndebele traditional house in South Africa
Below are two images of Ndebele houses in South Africa. These houses have been made quite famous for their popping colour expertly painted on.
© Ad Meskens / Wikimedia Commons
Houses like these originated from the Ndebele people in South and Southern Africa. The art painted on the buildings is over a millennium old (we know that because the same or similar art is found in ancient caves). Click here to see more South African ancient rock art.
© Angela Abel / CC BY 4.0
Today Ndebele people generally no longer live in such houses however the art is kept alive by artists from the world over.
The Ndebele houses pictured above can be found in Ndebele cultural centers where visitors can learn about Ndebele history and architecture.
Taarifa
Built: 20-21st century
Location: reconstructed Ndebele villages, South Africa, Southern Africa
king’s palace in Rwanda
In Rwanda you can find the traditional African King’s Palace. The one pictured below is the exact replica of the home royals dwelled in.
© Muhirehussein12 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Notice the expertly thatched roof of the building. This palace is located in Nyanza which was at a time in history the capital of the Kingdom of Rwanda.
© Hanay / CC BY-SA 3.0
Over time much has changed in Rwanda. However, if you are fond of furry majestic creatures, you can meet certain descendants of the kings at the back of the palace. It is thanks to the preservation of an awesome traditional practice from Rwanda that long-horned Inyambo cattle – descendants of the King’s herd! – are still kept at the palace.
Taarifa
Location: King’s Palace Museum Nyanza, Rwanda, East Africa
Sultan of Gaoui’s Palace In Chad
© Fatakaya / CC BY-SA 4.0
This is the palace of the once ruler of the Sao people, the Sultan of Gaoui.
A tremendous amount of history is held between the walls of the Sultan of Gaoui’s palace. Click here to learn more about palaces like this one and what is traditional African architecture in “23 Little-Known Ancient African Houses and Structures”.
Ulijua? – Traditional African Houses Facts
A great deal of what is traditional African architecture is at serious risk of collapse due to preventable environmental and financial factors.
Like many ksours and ancient African structures in the region this palace is at a high risk of collapsing and permanently shutting its doors. Lack of funds and insufficient visitors to the National Museum of Gaoui in Chad might lead to the disappearance of the Kotoko culture.
Taarifa
Establishment: 19th century
Location: Musée national de Gaoui, Chad, Central Africa
traditional African mud house In Kenya
The country of Kenya is home to over 50 ethnicities spread across the territory. In its capital a place was made over 50 years ago to showcase and educate visitors about the diverse Kenyan cultures.
© SteveRwanda / CC BY-SA 3.0
Pictured above is the reconstruction of what a traditional Luo village looked like. Historically Luos lived in the western region of Kenya by a beautiful lake named Victoria during colonialism.
Confused about all this? Read a Brief History of Africa.
Below is a traditional African home of the Kisii people of Kenya, also originally from Kenya’s west coast. This hut in particular belonged to somebody’s husband.
© Alexander Leisser / CC BY-SA 4.0
This is what is traditional African architecture for these two Kenyan ethnic groups looked like. An African village did not always resemble its neighbouring village. Today many ethnicities of Kenya live throughout the country. All ethnic groups play an equally vital part in Kenya’s rich history.
Ulijua? – Traditional African Houses Facts
The great African, writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was brought up in homes similar to these huts in central Kenya, read about it in his childhood memoir Dreams in a Time of War.
Taarifa
Built: c. 1971
Location: Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa
Want to see a House Built on a Rock? Scroll Down to House #9
These are 23 Little-Known Ancient African Houses and Structures. Which ones do you recognize?
Nubian House in Egypt
For centuries, traces of the once powerful kingdoms and traditions of Nubian people have been grandiose sights for all.
© David Stanley / CC BY 2.0
The Egyptian city of Aswan holds a great deal of Nubian history. In the Nubia Museum of the city you can find a replica of homes and habitations of Nubians.
© Myousry6666 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Other than the fantastic museum the city of Aswan has lots more to offer on Nubian and Egyptian history. Nubian traditional vilIages, as seen in 21 Riveting Images Exposing the African Culture, and much more can be found in the wonderful city of Aswan.
Taarifa
Built: c. 1990
Location: Nubian Museum, Aswan, Egypt, North Africa
Modern African Houses & Structures
The Gando Primary School
Contemporary African architecture is rapidly evolving and becoming one genius and impactful thing!
The Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso is a stark representation of traditional African practices finding their place in modern architectural designs.
This buildings in Gando were done by award winning architect Francis Kéré in 2001.
© Helge Fahrnberger / www.helge.at / CC BY-SA 3.0
Above is the primary school. Below is the school’s library.
© GandoIT / CC BY-SA 3.0
In Gando, Architect Francis Kéré built the Gando Secondary School as well as the Gando Mango Tree Project. He is also the first African recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2022.
While Gando is no touristic attractions, the habitants of the town and especially the pupils attending the Gando schools sure are blessed to have such a magnificent edifice to study in.
Ulijua? – Traditional African Houses Facts
The Gando school project won Francis Kéré the 2004 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Taarifa
Establishment: 2001
Location: Gando, Burkina Faso, West Africa
7 Enlightening Novels about Africa Book List for the Cultured Reader:
7 Enlightening Novels about Africa Book List for the Cultured Reader
Dominican Chapel In Nigeria
This Dominican Chapel shows a combination of European and African traditional architecture blending to create a work of art.
© Andrew Moore / CC BY-SA 2.0
This Chapel was constructed in the year 1977 at the Nigerian University of Ibadan.
Architect, and overall artist, Demas Nwoko commissioned this project.
© Andrew Moore / CC BY-SA 2.0
Taarifa
Built: 1977
Location: Ibadan, Nigeria, West Africa
Maropeng visitor center in South Africa
The Maropeng Visitor’s Centre or simply the Maropeng is an important site to learn about scientific discoveries of the region.
© Olga Ernst / CC BY-SA 4.0
Ulijua? – Traditional African Houses Facts
Maropeng means “returning to the place of origin” the Setwana language (one of the 11 official languages of South Africa).
The Maropeng offers visitors a collection of data and history of the many discoveries of the region, notably several million year old hominid fossils and species.
© South African Tourism from South Africa / CC BY 2.0
Maropeng is located at the Cradle of Humankind which was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1999. Today visitors can learn about human history by a tour of the Sterkfontein Caves and see some of humankind’s earliest objects and fossil.
Taarifa
Built: 7 December 2005
Location: South Africa, Southern Africa
Boubou-Hama national Museum and the tree of ténéré in Niger
The Boubou-Hama National Museum formerly know as the National Museum of Niger. At the museum visitors can view objects and collection of certain exhibits as well as visit a zoo (wild and aquatic fauna and flora, birds and reptiles), an artisanal centre and an educational centre!
© Jean Rebiffé / CC BY 3.0, CC BY 2.5, CC BY 2.0, CC BY 1.0
At the Musée National Boubou Hama remains of L’Arbre du Ténéré or Tree of Ténéré is displayed.
The Tree of Ténéré was considered the most isolated tree in the world. It was used as a landmark in the Ténéré region of the Sahara Desert in Niger. Sadly, the tree of Ténéré was knocked down by a drunk driver in 1973 it was soon relocated to the the Musée National Boubou Hama.
© Holger Reineccius / CC BY-SA 3.0
Taarifa
Built: 1958
Location: Musée National Boubou Hama, Niamey, Niger, West Africa
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