Traditional Hausa Architecture – Nigeria

INTBAU Nigeria is pleased to announce a 3-day workshop in traditional Hausa architecture. The event will take place in Kano, Nigeria, famous for its massive encircling earth wall and for its advanced earthen building tradition.

 
The second INTBAU Nigeria event was initiated to deal with part of a previous proposal made in 2007, which addressed the need to restore and conserve the devastated and ever-decaying Kano Walls. In this report what was clear was that there were three main factors which were responsible for the deterioration of the once prominent and impressive Kano Mud Walls:

1. Lack of educating local inhabitants on the importance of the walls as tangible heritage to the Hausa people;
2. Effects of overpopulation and poverty in Kano State; and
3. Modernity in Hausa-land.

All the above factors have significantly contributed and are continuing to contribute to the failure to protect the Heritage of the northern region of Nigeria. The “Restoration and Conservation of Kano Walls” proposed to reinstate the Kano walls in three stages – one of which is to set-up workshops in traditional Hausa building, as a way of reviving the almost lost method of construction, and in the quest to train local inhabitants, architectural and building students as well as other interest groups in the fundamentals of this simple and sustainable method of construction.

INTBAU Nigeria is hoping that this workshop will be an avenue that will help to encourage the preservation and conservation of Traditional Hausa Architecture, developments and innovation in mud or earth construction and to generally bring together a diverse group of individuals to get their hands dirty and acquire a new skill in a fun and professional environment.

More details:  www.intbau.org/hausaarchitecture2009.htm

Dates: 16 – 18 January 2009