via Wikimedia
The homes of the Kassena ethnic group of Tiébélé in Burkina Faso are some of the rarest structures you can find on Earth.
That’s because the homes that still stand here were constructed centuries ago in an ancient tradition largely waning today - a tradition the Kassena keep alive by building - or renovating - these clay houses.
A community activity practiced amongst the village’s women, the painted walls depict various symbols that strongly reflect the Kassena’s traditions and beliefs.
Crocodiles and serpents (traditionally sacred animals that dispel bad luck and disease), stars and the moon (symbols of benevolence and hope) - all are painted by hand on these walls, continuing the work that past ancestors began.
Every home is different - particularly the homes of the royals, or the Cour Royale de Tiébélé. On the walls of the chief’s royal residence, special geometric patterns and symbols are displayed. No other homes look like these.
Centuries ago, the sophisticated design of Tiébélé homes was created to protect the Kassena. Intentionally, doors were made small - the chief’s being the smallest - to protect them from enemies. Rooftops were used for hiding.
Today, those same rooftops are now used for drying grain.
The Kassena people aren’t just preserving their ancestral history - they are living it. And, as a community, they are upholding the sacred traditions their ancestors passed down long ago.