According to oneh and ati 2010,the present day traditional architecture of. Nigerian traditional arts, crafts and architecture. The politics of architecture and urbanism in postcolonial lagos, 19601986 daniel immerwahr department of history, university of california, berkeley this is a preprint of an article to appear in the journal of african cultur al studies 19. The architecture of the hausa is perhaps one of the least known but most beautiful of the medieval age. A lesson from vernacular architecture in nigeria neliti. And, as was the case with the avantgarde movements in the 1920s and 1930s, vernacular architecture is being recognised as the true bastion of rationality. An introduction to indigenous african architecture labelle. Imagination, materialism and democracy of the arts in nigeria growth, development and proliferation of nigeria humanistic arts house forms and settlement plan nigerian traditional architecture training the craftman the arts under colonial administration nigerian traditional arts, crafts and architecture. That nigeria possesses her own traditional art forms and styles has been establish. Paper open access related content vernacular architecture of. Drawing on the divergent example of the transition from traditional to modern urban housing forms in post colonial nigeria, the paper reveals that social changes. Cordelia3 1caleb university, lagos, nigeria 2university of lagos, lagos, nigeria.
Both western and traditional forms of medicine are popular in nigeria. The origin of these different traditional building body associates with the natural materials availability to the local builders as well as religious belief, cultural and taboos. The origin of these different traditional building body. The second is the fulani nomadic shelter, which at best can be referred to as tents. My definition of modern nigerian architecture is the style of architecture varying from the traditional and ethnic style of architecture employing the form follows function notion of frank lloyd wright, the use of industrially produced materials. If the previous factors were related solely to considerations of practicality, the following reasons are connected with spiritual realm. The nok civilization developed in the central part of nigerias present territory between 500 bc and 200 bc. Architecture and urbanism in the global south kampala, uganda, 27 30 june 2012 sustainability in traditional african architecture. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture 3 volumes on. Exploring the different vernacular architecture in nigeria. Hausa traditional architecture therefore can simply be defined as the art of shaping the environment to serve the requirements of hausa traditions comfortably and efficiently. Archaeologists in nigeria have found a tradition of sculpture making that dates back to at least 500 b. Indigenous art and nigerian contemporary residential.
Every cultural group in the world has its own form of vernacular though the. It explores not only the traditional vernacular, but also how this is changing in response to external influences and modernisation. Pdf a lesson from vernacular architecture in nigeria. National commission for museums and monuments, 1990 ocolc6043980. Central to the main theme is the argument for a reordering of architectural design and urban planning in southern nigeria to better accommodate the more traditional or cultural features of life as the illustrations shown will highlight. The blend of traditional architecture and historical styles formed vernacular architecture. Posted by jonathanadewumi on may 10, 2016 may 10, 2016 tradition is the act of transmitting or handing down or fact of being handed down, from one to. This paper gives a brief overview of vernacular architecture. The traditional architecture of the igbo of nigeria. Ewemade department of architecture, obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria abstract ileife is worldfamous for its sculptures, and for the pivotal role it plays in defining black culture.
This paper focuses on vernacular architecture and the various vernacular architecture in existence in nigeria. Pdf contemporary architecture has its roots from the vernacular. Traditional architecture is now being considered once again, although, surprisingly, not by architects but by other sectors of society. Dmochowskis work more pointedly centred on a single nation i. Sustainability in traditional african architecture.
The paper focuses specifically on the igbospeaking area of southeastern nigeria. Nigeria as a country is heterogeneous in both its sociocultural structure and ideological perspective because of its ethnic diversity. Organization and use of space spatial planning is a function of the use to which a building is put. Culture of nigeria history, people, clothing, traditions. Before considering the historical influences, a mention should be made of antiquity. Agwu inobia or eze agwu was one of the founding fathers of the city of arochukwu, the third largest city in abia state in southeastern nigeria. Osasona department of architecture, obafemi awolowo university, nigeria abstract decoration in the building process of traditional african cultures is spontaneous, and the practice institutionalized. Pruscalogunsote 2001 classified of nigerian architecture into historical, traditional and modern styles.
My definition of modern nigerian architecture is the style of architecture varying from the traditional and ethnic style of architecture employing the form follows function notion of frank lloyd wright, the use of industrially produced materials, and the emphasis on linear elements of design. The historical style is represented by the european, brazilian and north african trends. Therefore, they build round houses and live in large groups. The hausa traditional housing is an excellent reference of traditional architecture in nigeria and is thus an important socioeconomic variable in the development of the nation. The advent of colonialism in nigeria changed the traditional life and culture of nigerian which creates a weak connection between traditional architecture and contemporary architecture in nigeria. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture 3 volumes. Tradition is opinion, belief, practice, customs etc. Submit your pictures of nigeria vernacular architecture to the data base to share with the world. Traditional medicine, also known as juju, is common at the rural level. Most families also have their own secret remedies for minor health problems. Architecture in northern nigeria in northern nigeria, two styles of architecture have been identified in the area of housing in the traditional setting. Oct 11, 2017 the badagry building was the first storeyed building in nigeria and its construction marked the point at which yoruba traditional architecture started aspiring to modernism. The advent of colonialism in nigeria changed the traditional life and culture of nigerian which creates a weak connection between traditional architecture and.
The traditional settlements of the hausa people of northern nigeria which are described in this article might, perhaps, come into this category. The paper focuses on nigerias residential building culture. According to oneh and ati 2010,the present day traditional architecture of a place usually results from solutions. Traditional buildings across nigerias geographical zones are known to have demonstrated a thorough response to the climate, local technology and socioeconomic milieu in which they evolved. The architecture of the ancient yoruba of southwest nigeria was a communal endeavour and the house was a statement of ideological, economic and social position in the larger urban context. Prior to their conquest by europeans, these ethnic groups had separate and independent histories. The nigerian institute of architects nia was founded on the 1st of april 1960 as an association of independent professional architects with the aims and objectives of fostering friendship amongst members, cater for their welfare and establish mutual support and cooperation amongst them. The traditional architecture manifests in cone upon cylinder thatch roof placed on mud wall. A sense of community plays an extremely important role for hausa people.
The architecture of the ancient yoruba of southwest nigeria was a communal endeavour and the house was a statement of ideological, economic and social. Art and architecture of the igbo people culture 4 nigeria. Until recently, most studies of nigerian traditional arts were treated as part of a larger study, mainly in the form of historical surveys of african arts and culture. Bronze casting is a traditional art found mostly in. This study therefore examines the vernacular architecture of nigeria with focus on the three major ethnic groups which are the. He was the descendant of nna uru a immigrant from the igbo heartland to the obong okon ita area and king of the eze agwu clan centered in their capital the amanagwu citystate.
But in nigerian traditional architecture nta it is the. Sources of nigerian architecture in the 21st century. The coming of missionaries and political changes brought about by colonialism precipitated a change in architectural style and utility of buildings. Indigenous art and nigerian contemporary residential architecture c. The architecture of lagos is an eclectic mix of different types, styles and periods. Religion in history of hausa traditional architecture. But in nigerian traditional architecture nta it is the residential domestic architecture that is highly pronounced and well developed.
Vernacular architecture in northern nigeria vann has suffered a great deal, be it from human negligence, socioeconomic conditions, weather and climatic factors or modernization. Later, 85 odunfa street, built by a sierra leonean in 1914, became the first threestorey building in lagos. The concept of architecture, even in its widest traditional sense, is foreign to africa. Vernacular architecture across nigerias geographical clusters have. Northern nigeria volume 1 of an introduction to nigerian traditional architecture, zbigniew r.
More than 250 ethnic tribes call presentday nigeria home. Other smaller groups include the fulani, ijaw, kanuri, ibibio, tiv, and edo. The first is the hausa homestead, which is the dominant and more stable architecture. Many of their early mosques and palaces are bright and colorful, including intricate engraving or elaborate symbols designed into the facade 2. Statues and statuettes of ceramics, bronze, terracotta and brass were found in nigeria. Pdf the traditional architecture of the igbo of nigeria. The turkish online journal of design, art and communication tojdac august 2016 special edition submit date. In nigeria today, many traditional buildings and monuments of historical importance built during the precolonial and early colonial era have virtually disappeared from our landscape. Nigeria vernacular architecture pictures on africa vernacular architecture. Sources of nigerian architecture in the 21st century uia 2017 seoul.
An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture, vol. Modern architecture in postcolonial ghana and nigeria. Pdf traditional buildings across nigerias geographical zones are known to have demonstrated a thorough response to the climate, local. A gothic revival style was adopted for early churches built in the colony of lagos. Its variety of vernacular built environment seems to hold promise to that ambition. Apparently, the transplanted architecture does not respond to the physical and cultural needs of nigerians, and, at all events, the peoples attitude to it portrays ignorance, confusion and resignation. Architecture in western nigeria the forms in western nigeria comprise the architecture of the yoruba and benin traditional buildings.
Sep 27, 2016 but in nigerian traditional architecture nta it is the residential domestic architecture that is highly pronounced and well developed. The nok civilization developed in the central part of nigeria s present territory between 500 bc and 200 bc. Nigerian bronze work is often used to depict striking. The oldest europeanstyled buildings date back to the. News, interviews and architecture projects from nigeria.
Elements of portuguese architecture introduced by returnee exslaves from brazil and the. In nigeria, when the modern and traditional architecture is considered, professionals, designers and the researchers emphasize that, for functional architectural forms, efforts should be directed. It is hoped that this book will serve as a guide to scholars, it is hoped that this book will serve as a guide to scholars, architects, engineers and builders and as an inspiration for further creativity and growth. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture 3. In their place we now have to contend with modern architecture of many styles and descriptions. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture. John lloyd, architect, 1966 maxwell fry and jane drew, who had been in and out of west africa since the 1940s as planners and architects, were optimistic about the role of architecture in the tropics on the eve of independence. The three largest and most dominant ethnic groups are the hausa, yoruba, and igbo pronounced eebo. The nigerian institute of architects nia was founded on the 1st of april 1960 as an association of independent professional architects with the aims and objectives of fostering friendship amongst members, cater for their welfare and establish mutual support and.
Bronze casting is a traditional art found mostly in the southwestern area of the country. The urban fabric of igbo architecture in southeastern. Modern architecture in nigeria presents a bizarre picture of indiscriminate transplantation of foreign buildings, and a complete abandonment of traditional architecture. The oldest europeanstyled buildings date back to the 17th century. Traditional buildings across nigeria s geographical zones are known to have demonstrated a thorough response to the climate, local technology and socioeconomic milieu in which they evolved. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture book. Factors shaping vernacular architecture of northern nigeria. Apparently, the transplanted architecture does not respond to the physical and cultural needs of nigerians, and, at all events, the peoples attitude to it portrays ignorance. Architecture of nigeria was historically influenced by environmental conditions as well as social and cultural factors. It examines the influences of british colonial architectural practices and the afrobrazilian style which.
Posted by jonathanadewumi on may 10, 2016 may 10, 2016 tradition is the act of transmitting or handing down or fact of being handed down, from one to another. This study therefore examines the vernacular architecture of nigeria with focus on the three major ethnic groups which are the hausas. Practitioners of juju use a variety of plants and herbs in their cures. Viollet le duc, the habitation of man in a11 ages, trans. A lesson from vernacular architecture in nig eria joyce lodson 1, john emmanuel ogbeba 2, ugochuk wu kenechi elinwa 3 1 department of architecture, fed eral polytechnic bauchi, bauch i state. According to awotona 1986, the yoruba and the benin housing forms have a lot in common. Buildings range from traditional vernacular architecture to tropical, modern architecture or a mixture. An attempt will, however, be made to give an overview of materials, forms and techniques generating the traditional forms of architecture especially with respect to the three major ethnic groups previously mentioned.