African Indigenous Architecture Digital Archive
A digital repository of indigenous African architecture, preserving cultural heritage through community contributions.
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Include a brief description, country and community/tribe name in all file names. Example - Mijikenda Indigenous Architecture from Kenya
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Explore Our Digital Archive By Region
East African Architecture
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Burundi, Rwanda, Djibouti, Comoros, Eritrea, Seychelles, Mauritius, South Sudan, Reunion, Mayotte, French Southernn and Antarctic Lands
Central African Architecture
Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo - the Democratic Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe
West African Architecture
Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin, Liberia, Ghana, The Gambia, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, Togo, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Cabot Verde, Saint-Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
South African Architecture
South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, Malawi, Madagascar
North African Architecture
Algeria, Egypt, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara, Sudan.
Popular Content
Swahili Architecture
Graceful arches, carved doors, and coral stone define Swahili architecture—a style born of African, Arab, Persian, and Indian influences. Journey
Fort Jesus
Standing sentinel over Mombasa's harbor, Fort Jesus narrates a tale of conquest, trade, and resistance. Dive into its 16th-century Portuguese
Takwa Ruins
On Lamu's Shela Island, the Takwa Ruins tell of a vanished Swahili town. Walk amidst hauntingly quiet mosques and stone
Gede Ruins
Hidden in Kenya's coastal forest, the Gede Ruins whisper stories of a vanished Swahili city. Walk through coral-stone houses, intricate
Siyu Fort
Tucked away on Lamu Island, Siyu Fort stands as a symbol of local resistance against foreign domination. Unveil its coral-rag
Mnarani Ruins
Perched above the Kilifi Creek in Kenya, Mnarani Ruins reveal traces of a coastal civilization shaped by trade and Islam.
Tubali: Hausa Architecture
Step into Tubali, the earth-built houses of the Hausa people in Nigeria. Admire intricate plaster patterns, vibrant color washes, and
Mbari Houses
Among the Igbo people of Nigeria, Mbari houses are vibrant temples of art and spirituality. Step inside these sacred spaces,
Kano City: Mud Architecture
In the heart of northern Nigeria, Kano's ancient mud architecture stands resilient and beautiful. Explore how the city's earth-built walls,