Unveiling the Hidden Beauty: 44 Spectacular African Architectural Marvels
For architecture enthusiasts, European styles such as the elegant Dutch houses or the charming brick English countryside homes are often well-known. Asian architecture with its vibrant colors and thatched roofs may also captivate your interest. However, African architecture remains largely overlooked, apart from the famous Egyptian pyramids. Seeking to rectify this oversight, a Twitter user recently showcased numerous stunning examples of African architecture, highlighting its significance and beauty on par with any other architectural style.
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It’s really surprising to see that African architecture is so incredibly overlooked even though Africa is the second-largest continent in the world with over a billion people living there.
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These examples were shared by a Twitter account called Igbo Excellence (Igbo meaning an ethnic group from southern and southeastern Nigeria) and people instantly fell in love with this architectural style, praising it for its use of domes, arches and vivid colors.
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One of the examples shared was Nubian architecture. Nubians are an ethnolinguistic group of Africans indigenous to present-day Sudan and southern Egypt. Their architecture typically features large courtyards surrounded by high walls with ornate gates as well as the use of bright colors and geometric patterns.
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Igbo Excellence also shared pictures of the Sudano-Sahelian architecture, like the mud mosques of the Sahel. One of the greatest examples is the Great Mosque of Djenné located in Mali. Many architects consider the mosque as one of the greatest achievements of the Sudano-Sahelian architecture. Since the structure is easily damaged by the elements, an annual event is held each year where people celebrate and repair the mosque.
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The brutalist style also had an impact on African architecture. One of the most incredible examples of brutalism in Africa is the Agostinho Neto mausoleum located in Luanda, Angola.
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Somali architecture is known for combining many styles and construction types from many different time periods. This includes stone cities, castles, mosques, temples, lighthouses and many more.
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The Swahili people are an ethnic and cultural group inhabiting East Africa. Their architecture is highly decorative and features arches, courtyards and towers.
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Madagascar architecture strays away from the rounded shapes typically found in mainland African architecture and opts for more traditional square shapes. A distinctive feature of this style is the high, steeply-sloped roofs supported by a pillar in the center.
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Since Igbo Excellence shared the original tweet, it has been liked over 444k and shared over 140k times. Let’s hope more people discover and appreciate the African architecture in the future – check out more beautiful examples of it in the gallery below!
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