Wall facade decoration in Zinder, Niger. Image by Mariam Kamara.

The Hausas are one of the largest West-African ethnic groups with a population spread across Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana.

Prior to French colonisation, Hausa master builders were an affluent and influential class organised in a guild with their own rules and regulations. They were skilled in all aspects of building including structural design and facade decoration. They also absorbed techniques from elsewhere through exchanges with tradesmen that travelled all over the Muslim world.

In Niger, examples of Hausa architecture can still be found in the Southern part of the country in places like Zinder and Agadez.

Traditional Hausa architecture and expressive facade decoration

Traditional Hausa architecture consists of one to two story structures made of adobe. Privacy in Hausa architecture is paramount. Homes are built inside a tall compound wall that provides privacy and security to its inhabitants.

Aside from the entryway, there are no openings onto the street in a traditional Hausa compound. If they are to be found, they are usually very small in size and number. The architecture has a language of its own, and is rich in terms of structural innovation and expression (especially inside) and its expressive facades.

The facades can be very intricate, highlighting the entrance and the wall surrounding it. These decorations were traditionally commissioned by the head of the household to convey a message that signals anything from religious to social and economic class. But the home owners normally left it up to the craftsmen to come up with the design.

The intricacy of the wall decorations was a signal of wealth

For instance, the more wealthy a person was, the grander the entryway to their home would be. Similarly, the street-facing walls of the compound would be molded and decorated for those who had the means to commission such work.

The intricacy in the decoration, in terms of layering and design indicated wealth. Facade decoration was therefore a device used predominantly by the elite of Hausa society.

Traditionally, facade decorations were achieved by molding thick clay onto the adobe walls’ clay finish. Their execution was undertaken by highly trained builders who sought to showcase their knowledge and skill through their design. It was a truly artistic undertaking.

The introduction of cement changed how people designed their facades

Colonization and post-colonization building projects introduced cement to the built environment among Hausa people. This created new motivation for the plastering of traditional Hausa homes.

When used as external coating, the cement provided water-proofing for the adobe walls during the rainy season. This new plastering and decoration approach could be done quicker than what was done traditionally. It gave rise to specialists in the area.

Plastering became a separate task in the building process, which didn’t necessarily intervene at the inception of the building, but could be applied later on. The mai shafe or “plasterer” became a new figure in the building environment and offered his services independently of construction timelines.

Cement plastering democratised Hausa wall decoration

One consequence of the new facade building technique using cement is that not only the wealthy could afford it.

It became cheaper for people to decorate their walls as cement saved them money down the line in yearly repairs from water damage. This allowed more people to make improvements to their homes. It also meant everyone could express a level of status and gain satisfaction through living in a more attractive dwelling.

Unfortunately, cement also happens to be incompatible with adobe, causing the plaster to peel off the wall over time. Also, patching the facades up is not as easy as it is with clay.

Since the 1970’s, decorated traditional Hausa houses in cities like Zinder (in Niger) or Zaria, Kaduna, Kano (in Nigeria) are becoming a thing of the past. As is the case everywhere else in Africa, cement-block homes with garages and air-conditioning are considered the new status symbol.

It is interesting to note however, that in a quest to re-affirm that sense of status, decorated walls are making a comeback in cities like Niamey. It would be interesting to see how far such a re-appropriation goes and if it manages to revive (and perhaps even re-invent) this traditional building expression in the long run.

The fascinating history of traditional Hausa facade decorations