Man Gives 44 Beautiful Examples Of African Architecture To Show That People Have Been Missing Out On It

If you’re into architecture, you’re probably familiar with various European styles, like the tall and narrow Dutch houses or the cozy brick English countryside homes. Or maybe you’re into Asian architecture with its vivid color and thatched roofs. However what most of us know little to nothing about is African architecture – well, maybe except for the Egyptian pyramids but that’s a whole different story.

Tired of African architecture being so overlooked, one Twitter user shared many beautiful examples of it, proving it’s as important as any other architectural style.

Image credits: 1ncognito___

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.

Image credits: 1ncognito___

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.

Image credits: 1ncognito___

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.

Image credits: 1ncognito___

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.

Image credits: 1ncognito___

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.

Image credits: 1ncognito___

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.

Image credits: 1ncognito___

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.

Image credits: 1ncognito___

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!