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Located in the southwest of Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, near the Ghanaian border, lies a small village covering an area of approximately 12,000 square meters.2Known as Tiébélé, this village is home to the Kassena people, the oldest ethnic group in Burkina Faso. The Kassena settled in this village in the 15th century, and today, its inhabitants are considered Kassena nobility. Despite living in one of the poorest countries in the world, they possess a rich and diverse culture.
The Kassena tribe is a wonderful example of using natural resources to showcase their rich culture. The nobility living in the village of Tiébélé often decorated their windowless houses with vibrant colors to distinguish them from the houses of the commoners in the tribe.
This form of decoration has been an important part of their culture since the 16th century AD. They use local natural materials such as mud, colored chalk, clay, and coal to paint intricate images on the exterior walls of their homes. However, the most elaborately decorated places are not the houses but the tombs of the deceased.
The wall decoration was always done by women. The colors commonly used were black, white, and red. The images on the walls were diverse and abstract, inspired by daily life or religion and beliefs. Most images symbolized wisdom, friendship, unity, the souls of the deceased, and the afterlife. Some simple, easily recognizable images included stars, the moon, bows and arrows, or animals. After painting, the walls were carefully polished with stones, each color polished separately to prevent the colors from mixing. Finally, the entire surface was coated with a natural lacquer made from boiled neré tree bark.
The houses in the village of Tiébélé were typically built using earth, wood, and straw. The earth was mixed with straw and cow dung, moistened to a pliable consistency, and then molded into vertical shapes. Today, this technique has been replaced by the use of brick and mud walls with foundations resting on large stones. The houses were built for defense and to protect the inhabitants from the harsh climate and enemies. Therefore, the doorways were usually small and low to block sunlight and make it difficult for enemies to attack. The walls were very thick and there were almost no windows. After construction, the inhabitants had to wait two days. If a lizard appeared inside the house, it was considered a good omen. If not, the house would be destroyed.
The houses had very small doorways and no windows.
If there were windows, they were only a few small ones, just enough to let in some light.
Despite its popularity and the large number of visitors, the villagers are reluctant to see it become a tourist destination, preferring to preserve their home in its original state. However, the authorities plan to transform it into a tourist attraction in the future to support the local economy and raise funds for the restoration of the village's ancient structures. The World Monument Fund has also recognized Tiébélé as a World Heritage Site and is raising funds to promote and preserve its unique cultural features.
