A village in Burkina Faso, which is all painted with patterns and symbols (4 photos)

Africa is made up of more than fifty countries that have some of the most amazing landscapes ever created by nature. From the dense tropical forests of Central Africa to the vast size of the Sahara Desert and then the lush savannah in the east, the old continent never ceases to amaze.





According to archaeologists, this is also the place where the first people appeared. It is not surprising that Africa has given rise to many customs, ancient rites, traditions and mysticism. One of the places where ancient traditions are still honored today is the patterned village in Burkina Faso.

Unusual village

A small but very atmospheric village called Tibele is located in the country of Burkina Faso. This wonderful settlement is known for its traditional Gurunsi architecture and houses meticulously decorated by hand.



Patterns on one of the houses

These intricate houses were built by the Kassena people. They are made entirely from local materials: mainly earth, wood and straw. They have a unique design that provides both protection from enemies and the scorching sun. Small openings and doors about half a meter high provide the necessary amount of light.

But the decoration of the houses catches your eye: they were all hand-painted by local residents with special care. Geometric shapes cover the walls, turning them into magnificent paintings.





Painting on the walls in the village

Creating patterns

The process requires many days of work due to the materials used: mixed mud, natural chalk and clay are applied very carefully. This is followed by a polishing process and finally coating with natural varnish made from acacia leaves.

Traditional patterns are handcrafted in black, white and red. Decorating the walls with these artistic creations is a team effort, with more than 15 women working on each building. Not only houses, but also mausoleums of the dead are subject to such bright and picturesque decoration.



They hand-paint not only houses, but also other objects in the village

Ancestral symbols and animal figurines are also used to decorate the walls. It feels like each painting holds centuries-old secrets that turn the entire village into an otherworldly place. What’s even more fascinating is that all the paintings are unique, none of them are repeated. This is truly a testament to the strength of tradition and culture of the African people.