TIEBELÈ, THE VILLAGE WITH HAND-PAINTED HOUSES

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This small rural village is located in the south of Burkina Faso, just near the border with Ghana and it is home to one of the oldest ethnic groups in Africa. All the houses are made of mud and earth, and when completed are decorated by the women of the village, the only ones authorized to create these wonderful masterpieces in the open.

Tiebelè are the home in Kassena, one of the oldest tribes of Burkina Faso, from the great architectural skills. A people devoted to agriculture, known for the cultivation of corn, peanuts, sesame and beans. TIEBELÈ, THE VILLAGE WITH HAND-PAINTED MUD HOUSES
All homes are built with mud, earth, straw and wood, all materials present in the area and beautifully decorated according to Gourounsi tradition. It is real handmade murals that represent objects of daily life or make reference to religious symbols.

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The village houses have a circular arrangement and an area of about 1.2 hectares. The walls are vertical and 30 cm thick to create a strong defense against enemies, as well as protect inhabitants from the scorching heat. There are no windows, but only a small opening to let in light.

The décor is made by married women of the tribe after the rainy season in order to protect them from water that could wash them away. This is a process that takes place through the use of the black color obtained by blacking out the stones on the fire and from the preparation of a clay slurry which is then covered with a thin layer of red laterite.

TIEBELÈ, THE VILLAGE WITH HAND-PAINTED MUD HOUSES The murals are weather-proof thanks to a natural dye of boiled beans, taken from the carob tree fruits.
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The motifs and symbols are either taken from everyday life, or from religion and belief. The finished wall is then carefully burnished with stones, each colour burnished separately so that the colours don’t blur together. TIEBELÈ, THE VILLAGE WITH HAND-PAINTED MUD HOUSES

THE DRAWINGS AND THEIR MEANINGS:

Here are some of the drawings and their meanings:

Stars and moon: sign of good and hope
Semi-circle: calabash, one of the most important and used object in everyday life of Kassena people
Arrows: defence, warriors

Three-cross stitch: chicken for ritual sacrifices TIEBELÈ, THE VILLAGE WITH HAND-PAINTED MUD HOUSES

Crocodile and snake: sacred animals that keep away bad luck and disease

While the building of the houses is done by the men, the painting is a woman's job. Source

While the building of the houses is done by the men, the painting is a woman’s job.

The houses are ornamented with incredibly precise and delicate folklore patterns and each painted house has many different geometrical and illustrative drawings.

The designs also serves to protect the walls themselves. Source

The designs also serve to protect the walls themselves

The extraordinary nature of this village, where art plays a leading role is testimony to an ancient civilization, skilled in architecture and the art of wall decoration which creates natural works of art and beauty

The Painted Mud Houses of Tiébélé, Burkina Faso