ARCHITECTU

RE OF
AFRICA
APRIL JOY TUPAG
CHAREBHEL GRANITO
CHEL TALAMPAS
CHRISTY JANE JAMBO
RENDALE TAPAYA WALES
DANICA PANGSAYAN
HAZEL DAGONDON
ARMANDO GA-AS
RYANN MAY DELOSO
SAMANTHA ARELLANO
SUMMER SAGRADATA
 African architecture.
REGIONS NORTH AFRICA
IN
AFRICA

WESTERN AFRICA
EASTERN AFRICA

CENTRAL AFRICA

SOUTHERN AFRICA
 The architecture of Africa is as
diverse as the continent itself.
African architecture is a mix of
indigenous styles and styles
introduced by Europeans. Religion
has been a strong influence in
African architecture.
 Islamic influence on African architecture spread through
trade, shaping regions in both western and eastern Africa.
In western Africa, mosques like the one in Djenné, Mali,
and flat-roofed mud-brick houses became prominent by
the 1500s, with examples found in Nigeria. In eastern
Africa, Swahili and Arabic-speaking traders built stone
cities like Mombasa, while Lamu, Kenya, preserved its
Swahili character. Christianity impact was mostly seen in
Ethiopia, where rock-carved churches were built in Lalibela
during the 1200s.
 Temperate Climate Desert Climate Semi-Arid Climate (Sahel)
- Present in South Africa’s southern - Dominates northern Africa - Transition zone between the
coast (Cape Town). (Sahara Desert) and parts of Sahara Desert and the savanna,
- Mild temperatures with rainfall southern Africa (Namib and stretching across northern Africa.
spread throughout the year. Kalahari Deserts). - Hot with limited rainfall, prone to
- Extremely hot during the day, droughts and desertification.
cold at night, with very little
rainfall.

Mediterranean Climate Tropical Rainforest Climate Tropical Savanna Climate

- Found along the northern coast - - Surrounds the rainforest zone in
Found near the equator, including
(Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and the Congo Basin and coastal West central and eastern Africa.
parts of South Africa’s western - Hot temperatures with a distinct
Africa.
coast. - Hot and humid year-round with wet season (summer) and dry
- Mild, wet winters and hot, dry high rainfall, supporting dense season (winter).
summers.
 TRADITIONAL MATERIALS

HARD RAFFIA COW

STONE WOOD PALM DUNG

EARTH/ ANIMAL
GRASS
CLAY SKIN
 TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
- Ancient stone structures like
Egypt’s pyramids and Great
Zimbabwe are more durable.
- In parts of Africa, cow dung mixed
with mud or clay is used in building
for its durability, insulation,
antibacterial properties, and pest
- resistance.
Natural materials are vulnerable to
rain, rot, and termites, limiting
building lifespan.
 ARCHITECTURE OF
AFRICA
The Great Pyramids of Giza are regarded as one of the greatest
architectural feats of all times, and one of Seven Wonders of the 'Ancient
World'.
As with most architectural traditions elsewhere, African architecture has
been subject to numerous external influences from the earliest periods for
which evidence is available. Western architecture has also had an impact
on coastal areas since the late 15th century, and is now an important
source for many larger buildings, particularly in major cities.
ARLY ARCHITECTURE
Probably the most famous class of structures in all Africa, the
pyramids of Egypt remain one of the world's greatest early
architectural achievements, if limited in practical scope and
originating from a purely funerary context. Egyptian
architectural traditions also saw the rise of vast temple
complexes and buildings.
Notable buildings include the Meroitic
Western Palace of Faras, built of sun-
dried brick. Little is known of ancient Meroitic Western Palace of Faras
architecture south and west of the
Sahara. Harder to date are the monoliths
around the Cross River, which has
geometric or human designs. The vast
number of Senegambian stone circles
Senegambian Stone Circle
also evidence an emerging architecture.
ARLY ARCHITECTURE
EGYP
T
Egypt's achievements in architecture were varied from
temples, enclosed cities, canals, and dams.
NUBIA

Nubian Pyramids at
ARLY ARCHITECTURE
•Assyrians invaded Egypt in 671 BC, leading to Kush becoming an
independent state until 591 BC.
• Egyptians under Psamtik II invaded Kush, sacking and burning
Napata.
• Napata had 13 temples and 3 palaces, with few remains today.
• In 350 BCE, the Kushite capital moved to Meroë, partially due to
Egyptian pressure.
• Meroë became an iron production center, and monarchs were
buried there around 300 BC.
• Over 200 pyramids of various sizes were built in Meroë, made
from sandstone, 10-30 meters tall.
• In AD 350, Meroë fell after an invasion by the Ethiopian kingdom of
Aksum.
ARLY ARCHITECTURE
AKSUMI
TE

The ruin of the temple at Yeha, Tigray region, Ethiopia

ARLY ARCHITECTURE
- The best-known building of the 8th century BC in the region is the multi-story
tower at Yeha, Ethiopia, the capital of D’mt.
- Ashlar masonry was common, influenced by South Arabian architecture.
- Aksumite Architecture thrived from the 4th century BC and persisted into the
Zagwe dynasty (12th century).
- Stelae (hawilts) and churches were carved from single rock blocks, as seen
in Lalibela and Tigray.
- Large underground tombs often lay beneath the stelae, including the "Tomb
of the False Door" and tombs of Kaleb and Gebre Mesqel in Axum.
Structures like palaces and villas used alternating stone and wood layers, with
wooden "monkey heads" as supports.
- The 12th-century Yemrehanna Krestos Church and the 6th-century Debre
Damo monastery are key examples of surviving Aksumite architecture.
ARLY ARCHITECTURE

Debre Damo Tombs of Kaleb and Yemrehanna Kristos

Monastery, Northern Gebre Mesqel in Axum Church, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
ARLY ARCHITECTURE
BERBER
Thousands of tombs were left by Berbers that were pre-
Christian in origin and whose architecture was unique to north-
west Africa. The most famous was Tomb of the Christian
Woman in Western Algeria. This structure contains column
domed and spiraling pathways that lead to a single chamber.
ARLY ARCHITECTURE
TICHITT WALATA (OLD
GHANA)
The oldest surviving archaeological settlements in West Africa and the
oldest all stone base settlement south of the Sahara. It is thought to have
been built by Soninke people and is thought to be the precursor of the
Ghana empire. It was being settled around 2000 B.C. One finds well laid
out streets and fortified compounds all made out of skilled stone masonry.
In all, there were 400 settlements.
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
NORTH AFRICA
The Islamic conquest of North Africa saw Islamic
architecture develop in the region, including such
famous structures as the Cairo Citadel.

The Cairo Citadel of

Saladin
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
WEST AFRICA
Islamic merchants played a vital role in the Western Sahel region since
the Kingdom of [Link]-Bornu's capital city Birni N'Gazargamu, may
have have had a population of 200,000. It had four mosque which could
hold up to 12,000 worshippers. It was surrounded by a 25 foot wall and
more than 1 mile in circumference. Many large streets extended from the
esplanade and connected to 660 roads. The main building and structure
were built with red brick. Other buildings were built with straw and adobe.

The Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali, first built in the 13th

century and reconstructed in 1906–1909, is the largest clay
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
WEST AFRICA
• Six important Hausa city-states: Kano, Katsina, Daura, Gobir, Zazzau, and Biram.
• Kano was the most important, surrounded by reinforced ramparts and a citadel.
• Residences in Kano were separated by earthen walls, more elaborate for higher
status individuals.
• Entranceways were designed as mazes to seclude women; unmarried women
lived near the entrance.
• Koumbi Saleh had domed dwellings for locals and stone houses for traders, with
12 mosques.
• The king had large, decorated mansions with sculpture and painting.
• Sahelian architecture from Djenné and Timbuktu featured mud and timber
structures like the Sankore Mosque.
• Benin City had homes of coursed mud and hipped roofs, with the palace having
ceremonial rooms and brass plaques for decoration.
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
WEST AFRICA

Koumbi Saleh Ancient Ruins, Mauritania

 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
WEST AFRICA

• Ashanti architecture is known for courtyard-based buildings and

walls with bright mud plaster reliefs.
• A shrine example is at Bawjwiasi, Ghana, featuring four
rectangular rooms around a courtyard with animal designs on the
walls and palm leaf roofs.
• Yoruba settlements had massive mud walls and similar building
layouts with verandahs around the court.
• Sungbo's Eredo, in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, is the largest mud wall
structure in Africa, larger than the Great Pyramid or Great
Zimbabwe.
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
WEST AFRICA

Sungbo Eredo, in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria

 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
EAST AFRICA
Nubia (Christian and Islamic) Swahili
States
• Swahili architecture developed from Bantu settlements due to
increased trade with Arab merchants.
• The Palace of Husuni Kubwa near Kilwa, built around 1245, is
one of the earliest examples.
• Coral was commonly used in Swahili buildings, including roofs.
• Notable structures include Kilwa's two-story palace, pillar tombs in
Malindi and Mnarani, and Zanzibar's Stone Town.
• Zanzibar's Stone Town is known for its carved doors and the Great
Mosque of Kilwa.
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
EAST AFRICA

Husini Kubwa Palace Great Mosque of Kilwa

In Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania Kisiwani, Tanzania
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
EAST AFRICA
• Aksumite architecture and monolithic tradition
persisted throughout the medieval period,
especially in the Late Aksumite and Zagwe periods.
• Significant rock-hewn churches were carved in
Ethiopia, particularly in Tigray, the heart of the
Aksumite Empire, during the 10th-12th centuries.
• The most notable examples are the 11 monolithic
churches of Lalibela, made from red volcanic tuff.
• Initially attributed to King Lalibela, evidence
suggests they were built over several centuries,
Bete Medhane with some churches dating back to 600-800 A.D.
Alem, Lalibela, • Bete Gebriel-Rufa'el, initially a fortress, was later
the largest converted into a church.
monolithic
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
CENTRAL AFRICA
• Mbanza Congo: Capital of the Kingdom of Kongo
with a population of over 30,000.
• Location: Situated on a cliff above a river and
forested valley.
• King's Dwelling: A 1.5-mile enclosure with walled
pathways, courtyards, gardens, decorated huts, and
palisades; likened to a Cretan labyrinth by an early
explorer.
• Eastern Lunda (Kacembe's Dwelling): Fenced
roads extending a mile, with grass walls 12-13 spans
high.
• Central Structure: Rectangular hut with a wooden
base topped by a statue about 3 spans high.
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
CENTRAL AFRICA
•Burundi:
• Lacked a fixed capital; the royal hill served as the temporary capital.
• The royal compound (Insago) was enclosed by a high fence with two
entrances: one for herders and one for the royal palace.
• The palace had three courtyards for herders, sanctuary, kitchen, and
granary.

•Rwanda (Nyanza):
•Nyanza was the royal capital with the king's residence (Ibwame) on a hill.
•Surrounding areas had round huts with large yards and high hedges.
•The royal compound (Rugo) featured circular reed fences around thatched
houses, a clay hearth, and was approximately 200-100 yards in size.
•One entrance led to a large public square called Karubanda.
 MEDIEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
CENTRAL AFRICA
Kuba Kingdom Capital:
Surrounded by a 40-inch high fence.
Features roads, a walled royal palace, and urban buildings.
The palace is rectangular and centrally located.

Buganda Capital (Kibuga) at Mengo Hills:

Constantly changes locations among hills.
Divided into quarters for each province.
Each chief has a dwelling for family and visitors.
The city is 1.5 miles wide with large plots for banana and fruit cultivation.
Roads are wide and well-maintained.

Marave People:
Built bridges called Uraro to adapt to changing river depths.
Bridges made of bamboo, tied with bark (maruze).
One end tied to a tree, curving downwards with a bamboo balustrade.
ODERN ARCHITECTURE
SOUTHERN AFRICA
• Great Zimbabwe is the largest medieval city in
sub-Saharan Africa.
• Constructed over 300 years, it features flowing
curves instead of straight lines.
• Notable for its size, it includes the Great
Enclosure with stone walls up to 36 feet high and
extending 820 feet.
The conical tower • The Great Enclosure is the largest ancient
inside the Great structure south of the Sahara.
Enclosure in • Houses within the enclosure were circular, made
Great Zimbabwe, of wattle and daub, topped with conical thatched
a medieval city roofs.
built by a
 culture
ODERN ARCHITECTURE
SOUTHERN AFRICA

Fasiledes's castle, Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar

ODERN ARCHITECTURE
• Influences: Baroque, Arab, Turkish, and Gujarati Indian styles emerged in Ethiopia
during the early modern period due to Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in the 16th and
17th centuries.
• Portuguese Arrival: Initially, Portuguese soldiers came to aid Ethiopia against Adal,
followed by Jesuits aiming to convert the population.
•Turkish Influence: Some influence occurred during the late 16th century amid
Ethiopia's conflict with the Ottoman Empire, leading to increased fortress and castle
construction.
• Defensive Structures: Ethiopia's rugged terrain limited the tactical use of castles
compared to Europe, resulting in minimal development of this architectural tradition until
the reign of Sarsa Dengel.
• Fasil Ghebbi: The royal enclosure of castles in Gondar was established in 1635,
reflecting the new architectural influences.
• Emperor Susenyos: Converted to Catholicism in 1622, attempted to make it the state
religion, and employed foreign masons.
• Architectural Legacy: The Gondarine dynasty's style persisted throughout the 17th
and 18th centuries, influencing modern 19th-century styles.
ODERN ARCHITECTURE
• Early European colonies in West Africa focused on building large forts, such
as Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle.
• Most forts were plain, with limited ornamentation; Dixcove Fort displayed
more internal creativity.
• Gradual embellishments influenced later structures like Lamu Fort and the
Stone Palace of Kumasi.
• By the late 19th century, colonial buildings reflected European eclecticism
and Mediterranean styles.
• Surviving examples include colonial towns in Saint-Louis, Senegal, and
Grand-Bassam.
• Some buildings were pre-fabricated in Europe and shipped to Africa.
• European architectural traditions persisted into the 20th century with manor
houses like Shiwa Ng'andu in Zambia and Boer homesteads in South
Africa.
ODERN ARCHITECTURE

Saint-Louis, Senegal 19th Century South Africa

Boer Homestead

Grand-Bassam, Abidjan Shiwa Ng'andu Manor |

Robin Pope Safaris
ODERN ARCHITECTURE
• Revival of traditional styles began in Cairo in the early 19th
century.
• Spread to Algiers and Morocco by the early 20th century,
influencing colonial architecture.
• Example: Jamia Mosque in Nairobi blends traditional African
elements.
• Some architects mixed local and European styles, like in
Bagamoyo.
• Modern architecture influenced Africa in the 1920s and 1930s.
• Le Corbusier designed unbuilt projects for Algeria.
• Italian futurists built modern designs in Asmara, Libya, and East
Africa.
ODERN ARCHITECTURE
•After 1945, Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew extended British school
designs to Ghana and worked on the University of Ibadan.
•Algiers reconstruction included works by architects like Oscar
Niemeyer and Kenzo Tange.
•Modern architecture in Africa was mainly led by European
architects until the 1960s, with exceptions like Le Groupe Transvaal
in South Africa.
•Post-colonial cities like Abidjan and Yamoussoukro featured
monumental architecture, including the Basilica of Our Lady of
Peace.
•Experimental designs, such as the Eastgate Centre in Harare,
used climate-responsive architecture.
•Neo-vernacular styles remain, seen in buildings like the Great
Mosque of Nioro.
ODERN ARCHITECTURE

Basilica of Our Lady of Eastgate Center in

Peace of Yamoussoukro Zimbabwe
ODERN ARCHITECTURE

• Notable structures: Aswan High Dam and Akosombo Dam,

holding the world's largest reservoirs.
• Renewed bridge building in many nations and the Trans-Gabon
Railway.
• Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt: A modern granite-clad public
library built in 2001, designed by Snøhetta and Hamza Associates.
• It commemorates the ancient Library of Alexandria, with
ultramodern, non-traditional architecture.
FamilyID=Office_ArchiveTorn

Aswan High Dam, River Nile,

Sudan, Egypt Akosombo Dam Eastern
Region Ghana
Bibliotheca Alexandrina in
Egypt
ODERN ARCHITECTURE