In Western Africa there is a small landlocked country called Burkina Faso that is home to roughly 19.5 million people. Though this country is extremely poor, it is also one of the most culturally rich countries in its immediate region.
In the 15th century, the Kassena people settled in Burkina Faso and named their village Tiébélé. Since then they have been building their incredible colorful homes known as sukhala. These stunning homes are one-of-a-kind; you definitely will not find them anywhere else!
Built for protection against invaders and the weather, these homes are almost completely windowless. Even the one door into the home is only two feet tall to aid in the home’s purpose.
After the men of the village have used resources found nearby to build the home, the person who is going to live in it waits for two days before moving in. If a lizard does not enter the house during those two days, the house is not considered a good house and is destroyed. Only if a lizard enters the house is it considered a good home.
Incredibly, many of these buildings are not even actual places where people in the village live. Instead many of the structures are mausoleums for their dead.
After the building has been built, the women of the village come together to create the beautiful artwork on the outside of the homes. Using mud and chalk these intricate geometric designs are depictions of everyday life and of their religious practices.
What an incredible sight it would be to view these homes and buildings in person!
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