Lecture 06: Sub-Saharan Africa

Africa and Sahara Desert (and Sub-Saharan Desert)

Africa is a large continent with many countries, people, and cultures. The Sahara Desert is a huge hot desert in northern Africa with little rain. Sub-Saharan Africa is the part of the continent south of the Sahara.

Christianity and church basics (nave, aisles, altar, etc.)

A religion based on Jesus Christ. A building to worship. The main hall is for sitting. Side passages are for walking. A table at the front is for prayers. A platform is for reading the Bible. A tower may have bells.

Islam and mosque basics (qibla, mihrab, minaret, etc.)

A religion of Muslims who follow Allah and Prophet Muhammad. A place to pray. Facing Mecca to pray. A niche showing this direction. A tall tower for the call to prayer. A rounded roof. The main prayer area. A place to wash before praying.

Savannah

Refers to a mixed grassland ecosystem characterized by scattered trees and a continuous layer of tall grasses.

Dogon people

A group of people in Mali, Sub-Saharan Africa, known for their unique culture, cliff-side villages, and traditional art and masks.

Toguna

A low-roofed building in some Sub-Saharan African villages where elders meet to discuss important community matters and settle disputes.

Banco

Primarily refers to mud brick architecture, a traditional building technique that has shaped the architectural landscape of the region for centuries.

Shona people

A group of Bantu-speaking people who mainly live in Zimbabwe and are known for their farming, art, and stone-built ruins.

Zimbabwe (building)

Building refers to the diverse architectural styles that reflect the country's rich cultural heritage.

Granary

A storehouse for threshed grain

Torons

Refers to horizontal wooden beams or logs used in West African architecture, particularly in traditional Malian buildings such as mosques

City and Country: Bet Giorgis Church

Lalibela, Ethiopia

Year: Bet Giorgis Church

1100-1200

Sig: Bet Giorgis Church

1. Bet Giorgis is carved entirely from a single piece of volcanic rock (monolithic), cut downward into the earth rather than built upward.

2. The church is dedicated to Saint George, an important Christian martyr and protector figure in Ethiopian tradition.

City and Country: Great Mosque of Djenné

Djenne, Mali

Year: Great Mosque of Djenné

1300s

Sig: Great Mosque of Djenné

1. The building is made from sun-dried mud bricks and plaster, which built and replastered regularly, especially during an annual community festival, which helps preserve the structure.

2. The mosque is a central place of Islamic worship in Mali and has served the Muslim community of Djenné for centuries and it remains an active mosque and an important religious symbol for the region.

Bet Giorgis Church

Bet Giorgis Church

Great Mosque of Djenné

Great Mosque of Djenné