Traditional and cultural South and Central African Homes

The countries of Southern Africa are closely related to each other and some of their houses though in different countries may resemble. Countries like the Republic of South Africa were colonised the longest yet have retained some of their Historic past through their houses.

The countries in South and Central Africa include the Republic of South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Angola, Malawi and Mozambique. The material used to construct most African traditional homes included, brick, mud, dung, grass and stone depnding on the area on the person status in society. Most African societies were ran by kings and chiefs and those who held  such positions were ranked highly in society and consequently would have homes signifying this status.

Bee-hive like Zulu hut, South Africa: The Zulus are ethnic South African group who have a rich History. The famous Shaka Zulu was from thsi group. This traditional Zulu hut of South Africa is made using stone at the base and the upper part has the design of a  beehive-style dome look. This house is more modern as the traditional ones as shown below used differnt materials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/367584_traditional-and-cultural-south-and-central-africas-homes#ixzz11uY5MWB9

Traditional and Cultural East and North East African Homes

In this second part of the article, the traditional houses of the countries in East and North East Africa are examined. The countries of East and North East Africa include Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Sudan.

The houses in East Africa are made with materials that make them cool in the hot weathers and warm in the cold rainy seasons. The materials used range from mud, brick, dung, grass and stone depending on the area. The homes would be huddled together in a homestead in a viallage based on the African communal nature. The close promixty identifies the relatedness of the people and also traditional acted as a form of protection against outsiders.

Cone Like Houses, Ethiopia: These houses were built with stone, mud and daub, and thatched with straw. They are higher up but narrower than some other African homes. The ones that have a square look are the more modern homes and the roof is made from corregated Iron. 

 













Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/365530_traditional-and-cultural-african-homes-part-2#ixzz11uWTMvk3

Traditional and Cultural West African homes

Africa has some interesting traditional houses. Most of the houses are round with a triangular thatched roof while others are of square design. Most of the houses were built based on the ethnic group needs.

 

Some groups were more concerned about their security and so fortified the buidings while others had houses which were more temporaly and looked like tents because they were pastoralists. What is interesting about these structures is that they are weather proof although looking at them one may not think so.

The houses are made in a way and with materials that make them cool in the hot weathers and warm in the cold rainy seasons. The materials used range from mud, brick, dung, grass and stone depending on the area. Africans are a communal people and most of the homes would be huddled together in a homestead as an extension of each other and for protection against outsiders.

In this first part I explores traditional homes in West Africa.  West Africa has a rather humid climate and that may explain most of their traditional houses compared to those in the East and South Africa. The countries that make West Africa include Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, Bukina Faso and Niger.

Dogon Villages, Mali: Historically Dogon Villages established in the Bandiagara area due to their resistance to Islam1000 years ago. The insecurity of Islam encroachment to their culture forced them to locate their villages in defensive positions along the walls of an escarpment. The huts are built of banco a mixture of earth and straw. The Kitchen is round and is covered by a thatched roof. They also had houses built for menstrating women as women were considered unclean during menstration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/364302_traditional-and-cultural-african-homes#ixzz11uVELDCf

The Way forward for the Media in Africa

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook” Proverbs 18:4.

The media is the greatest tool that the world has today in influencing ideas and opinions. It is accessible to most people in one form or another. How the news is portrayed and what becomes news is determined by the media. It also influences how people think about a particular item or event by how the news is reported. This is why the media must be careful at what it reports and how it reports. One way or another it will covey a message which may have great ramification on those reading or receiving the message.

The western media has for the most part portrayed the African continent as backwards and inferior in every aspect while glorifying the animals found in Africa. All that one reads about Africa is the perceived ignorance, poverty, and corruption of the Africans. This seems to have become the symbol of Africa and has been done so with a motive which the ignorant reader may not even recognize.

To most people in the western world poverty, disease and animals is what Africa is about which opinion is based on how news from Africa is reported. Good things happening in Africa is not news, but a continuous report about calamities, diseases and roused civil conflicts and poverty is acceptable news. The same media reports to the African a glamorized Western world; perhaps an ideal of what is good

The idea here is to portray one as superior and the other as inferior to the other. Some of the comments that I have read on an article on Africa, from those in the Western world are despicable and full of ignorance yet it is the acceptable view. No wonder then that the African has for a long time perceived himself as inferior because of this deception while the person from the West erroneously believe he is superior.

This is why the media from localized African countries have as of necessity a duty to campaign for Africa in order to change perspective on Africa. The media has to go further and plant seeds of pride and acceptance among Africans for themselves and their culture. It should promote what is African and create a spirit of accountability by following up on issues that promote integrity and honor among Africans. The media should influence by suggestions and not just analysis.

The media must intentionally and consciously go out to promote anything and everything good about Africa. It must as of necessity start the process of influencing Africans to be proud of being Africans by exposing positive things about Africa and by continuously hailing good acts by Africans. The media in Africa should not report about its own people in the same way the Western media reports but should instead offer a different perspective that is liberating and honoring to the people of Africa.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/333965_the-way-forward-for-the-media-in-africa#ixzz11uU4sWrF

Technology Entrepreneurs doing wonders in Africa

I get amazed at the creativity of human beings given the opportunity and the right atmosphere. One of the greatest amazement of our times is the way the Information Technology (IT) has grown and developed within such a short span of time.

 

IT encompasses a wide variety of areas including things like “Processes, Computer Software, Computer Hardware, programming languages and Data Constructs. In short, anything that renders Data, Information or perceived Knowledge, in any visual format whatsoever, via any multimedia distribution mechanism, is considered to be a part of the domain space known as Information Technology 

(IT)”. (Wikipedia)

More and more we read of great creative innovation by people with little resources coming up with new technologies suitable to their environment and of benefit to their communities. This goes to show that the mind left untethered can do wonders as it the part that actualizes the human being creative powers associated with his maker.

Read more: http://scienceray.com/technology/technology-entrepreneurs-doing-wonders-in-africa/#ixzz11qCgcSuy

Africa's Historic past told by buildings, monuments and artwork part 3

In this last article West Africa’s rich past is examined through the culture, buildings and monuments, artwork and writings.

 

West Africa is known to have heard a rich culture and History with strong kingdoms and wealth. It is also the region in Africa south of the Sahara that Islam seems to have had more effect or adopted as a religion. In this section we shall also include part of Central Africa as well as West Africa. The Countries in this region include Nigeria, Mauritania, Ghana, Togo, Mali, Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Congo.

Grand Mosque in Bobo-Dioulassoi, Bukina Faso:This mosque was built out of mud bricks with sticking poles out the walls which help in climbing up the mosque when in need of repair. It is said that the mosque was built by people of all faith. A common proverb in Bukina Faso claims that “50% are  Muslim, 50% are Christian, and 100% are  animist” (Wikipedia) which could explain how the building of this mosque involved people of all faiths.

Read more: http://quazen.com/arts/architecture/africas-historic-past-told-by-buildings-monuments-and-artwork-part-3/#ixzz11qBfm2TH

Africa's Historic past told by buildings, monuments, landmarks, and artwork part 2

In this second part of the article we look at the East and North East African countries. The countries of East and North East Africa include, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Ethiopia was the only country in the south of Sahara Africa that was never colonised. For this reason much of its History has been left intact.

Gondar -Ethiopia: The city of Gondar is in the north of Lake Tana, in Ethiopia. The city was founded by emperor Fasilidie about 1635 and was the capital city of Ethiopia until 1855. Emperor Fasilidie reigned from 1632-1667. He is said to have restored the power of Ethiopian Orthodox church by suppressing Roman Catholic institutions. He is credited to have mounted major building campaigns which includes a number of churches, his castle and seven stone bridges.

Read more at: http://trifter.com/africa/africas-historic-past-told-by-buildings-monuments-landmarks-and-artwork-part-two/