West African Savanna

Architecture with mud mosques and compounds.

Overview

West African Savanna architecture, using mud brick and thatch, features mosques and family compounds, prominent in Nigeria and Ghana.

Core Characteristics

• Mud-brick mosques, spires.
• Thatched compounds.
• Vernacular prevalence.

Notable Examples

• Great Mosque of Kano (Nigeria, 15th century).
• Ashanti Compounds (Ghana, traditional).

Architectural Connections

• Islamic: Religious focus.
• Residential: Compounds.
• African Architecture: Core movement.

Influence and Legacy

Led by West African craftsmen, it adapts to savanna climates.

Related Concepts & Techniques

Mud Brick (technique), Functionalism (theory), Wall (element), Islamic Architecture (movement)