Nigeria as a country is heterogeneous in both its sociocultural structure and ideological perspective because of its ethnic diversity. The traditional settlements of the hausa people of northern nigeria which are described in this article might, perhaps, come into this category. 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. If the previous factors were related solely to considerations of practicality, the following reasons are connected with spiritual realm. It examines the influences of british colonial architectural practices and the afrobrazilian style which. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture 3 volumes on.
Other smaller groups include the fulani, ijaw, kanuri, ibibio, tiv, and edo. The architecture of the ancient yoruba of southwest nigeria was a communal endeavour and the house was a statement of ideological, economic and social. Both western and traditional forms of medicine are popular in nigeria. Exploring the different vernacular architecture in nigeria. Modern architecture in postcolonial ghana and nigeria. Traditional architecture is now being considered once again, although, surprisingly, not by architects but by other sectors of society. Art and architecture of the igbo people culture 4 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. 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. The coming of missionaries and political changes brought about by colonialism precipitated a change in architectural style and utility of buildings. The turkish online journal of design, art and communication tojdac august 2016 special edition submit date.
Indigenous art and nigerian contemporary residential. Vernacular architecture in northern nigeria vann has suffered a great deal, be it from human negligence, socioeconomic conditions, weather and climatic factors or modernization. According to oneh and ati 2010,the present day traditional architecture of. Most families also have their own secret remedies for minor health problems. Later, 85 odunfa street, built by a sierra leonean in 1914, became the first threestorey building in lagos. That nigeria possesses her own traditional art forms and styles has been establish. The historical style is represented by the european, brazilian and north african trends. Viollet le duc, the habitation of man in a11 ages, trans. Modern architecture in nigeria presents a bizarre picture of indiscriminate transplantation of foreign buildings, and a complete abandonment of traditional architecture. 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. Pdf a lesson from vernacular architecture in nigeria. Sep 27, 2016 but in nigerian traditional architecture nta it is the residential domestic architecture that is highly pronounced and well developed. It explores not only the traditional vernacular, but also how this is changing in response to external influences and modernisation. According to awotona 1986, the yoruba and the benin housing forms have a lot in common.
Prior to their conquest by europeans, these ethnic groups had separate and independent histories. This paper focuses on vernacular architecture and the various vernacular architecture in existence in nigeria. The nok civilization developed in the central part of nigeria s present territory between 500 bc and 200 bc. The architecture of the hausa is perhaps one of the least known but most beautiful of the medieval age. 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. Its variety of vernacular built environment seems to hold promise to that ambition. The advent of colonialism in nigeria changed the traditional life and culture of nigerian which creates a weak connection between traditional architecture and. In their place we now have to contend with modern architecture of many styles and descriptions. Architecture of nigeria was historically influenced by environmental conditions as well as social and cultural factors.
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. The paper focuses specifically on the igbospeaking area of southeastern nigeria. The paper focuses on nigerias residential building culture. Pdf the traditional architecture of the igbo of nigeria. 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. This study therefore examines the vernacular architecture of nigeria with focus on the three major ethnic groups which are the hausas. 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. A sense of community plays an extremely important role for hausa people. 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. The concept of architecture, even in its widest traditional sense, is foreign to africa. The origin of these different traditional building body. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture, vol.
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. 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. Nigeria vernacular architecture pictures on africa vernacular architecture. The first is the hausa homestead, which is the dominant and more stable architecture. Architecture in northern nigeria in northern nigeria, two styles of architecture have been identified in the area of housing in the traditional setting. Cordelia3 1caleb university, lagos, nigeria 2university of lagos, lagos, nigeria. 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. Organization and use of space spatial planning is a function of the use to which a building is put. Buildings range from traditional vernacular architecture to tropical, modern architecture or a mixture.
Therefore, they build round houses and live in large groups. The traditional architecture manifests in cone upon cylinder thatch roof placed on mud wall. 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. News, interviews and architecture projects from nigeria. Traditional medicine, also known as juju, is common at the rural level.
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. Dmochowskis work more pointedly centred on a single nation i. Architecture in western nigeria the forms in western nigeria comprise the architecture of the yoruba and benin traditional buildings. The traditional architecture of the igbo of nigeria. According to oneh and ati 2010,the present day traditional architecture of a place usually results from solutions. 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. Factors shaping vernacular architecture of northern nigeria. The oldest europeanstyled buildings date back to the 17th century. Practitioners of juju use a variety of plants and herbs in their cures. 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. Pdf traditional buildings across nigerias geographical zones are known to have demonstrated a thorough response to the climate, local. Vernacular architecture across nigerias geographical clusters have. Pdf contemporary architecture has its roots from the vernacular. An introduction to indigenous african architecture labelle.
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 second is the fulani nomadic shelter, which at best can be referred to as tents. But in nigerian traditional architecture nta it is the residential domestic architecture that is highly pronounced and well developed. The architecture of lagos is an eclectic mix of different types, styles and periods. Northern nigeria volume 1 of an introduction to nigerian traditional architecture, zbigniew r. The three largest and most dominant ethnic groups are the hausa, yoruba, and igbo pronounced eebo.
Osasona department of architecture, obafemi awolowo university, nigeria abstract decoration in the building process of traditional african cultures is spontaneous, and the practice institutionalized. Religion in history of hausa traditional architecture. Statues and statuettes of ceramics, bronze, terracotta and brass were found in nigeria. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture 3. This study therefore examines the vernacular architecture of nigeria with focus on the three major ethnic groups which are the. The oldest europeanstyled buildings date back to the. Nigerian bronze work is often used to depict striking. Sustainability in traditional african architecture. 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. Archaeologists in nigeria have found a tradition of sculpture making that dates back to at least 500 b. Tradition is opinion, belief, practice, customs etc. Submit your pictures of nigeria vernacular architecture to the data base to share with the world. Elements of portuguese architecture introduced by returnee exslaves from brazil and the. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture.
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. Paper open access related content vernacular architecture of. 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. A lesson from vernacular architecture in nigeria neliti. The nok civilization developed in the central part of nigerias present territory between 500 bc and 200 bc. Indigenous art and nigerian contemporary residential architecture c. 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. Many of their early mosques and palaces are bright and colorful, including intricate engraving or elaborate symbols designed into the facade 2. 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. 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.
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. 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. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture book. Sources of nigerian architecture in the 21st century uia 2017 seoul. Bronze casting is a traditional art found mostly in. Pruscalogunsote 2001 classified of nigerian architecture into historical, traditional and modern styles. Before considering the historical influences, a mention should be made of antiquity. National commission for museums and monuments, 1990 ocolc6043980. A gothic revival style was adopted for early churches built in the colony of lagos. 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. Culture of nigeria history, people, clothing, traditions. 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 and urbanism in the global south kampala, uganda, 27 30 june 2012 sustainability in traditional african architecture. The urban fabric of igbo architecture in southeastern. 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. 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.
An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture 3 volumes. But in nigerian traditional architecture nta it is the. This paper gives a brief overview of vernacular architecture. 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. The blend of traditional architecture and historical styles formed vernacular architecture. Sources of nigerian architecture in the 21st century. Nigerian traditional arts, crafts and architecture. Every cultural group in the world has its own form of vernacular though the. More than 250 ethnic tribes call presentday nigeria home. Bronze casting is a traditional art found mostly in the southwestern area of the country.
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