A traditional African hut in Ethiopia

The African round hut known in literature as cone on cylinder or cone on drum hut. The hut has different names in various African languages. It is constructed usually with a conical foundation and peaked thatched roof. It is most commonly made out of mud and its roof is often made with grass and with local materials. It has been constructed for thousands of years. The thatched-roofed, plastered type mud houses construction was found early East Africa, where various local indigenous tribes built them, using them as homestead alongside lifestyle with agriculture and farming. The mud hut is extremely common throughout rural parts of the African continent.[1] They can be different in shape and size depending on the region in which they are built. [2]

Architecture

Inside a hut looking towards the ceiling

An African round hut is a seen as vernacular architecture since they are built of readily available materials. The huts can be built using mud, cow spillings, bricks or grass in some cases. A new mud hut will last 1-2 years, depending on the amount of rain and erosion. The huts were built so they could be loosely clustered around open spaces, which provided ventilation and breezes, in order to provide comfort in the tropic

Names and types

An undecorated rondavel

Depending on location the name of the African round hut can vary.[3] Here is a list of what the huts are called in various African countries:

Regions of Eritrea
Country Local name
Angola Mbukushu
Botswana Dumela
Congo Cob/Adobe
Eritrea Tukul/Agudo
Ethiopia Godjo
Kenya Itambi
Namibia Kraals
Lesotho Mokhoro
South Africa Rondavel
South Sudan Hotnhial


References

  1. ↑ "Construction and Cultural Significance of Mud Huts". designcauseinc.org.
  2. ↑ Steyn, Gerald (2006). "The indigenous rondavel – a case for conservation" (PDF). ac.za.
  3. ↑ "In celebration of the African vernacular architecture". Design Indaba.
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