Called "case obus," large huts made of sun-dried clay mud stand as undeniable proof of the strength and architectural creativity of the Mousgoum people. These form a unique, picturesque landscape in terms of architecture. In addition to the striking character of these conical huts, the decorative geometric attributes go beyond the simple purpose of exterior embellishment and never cease to fascinate visitors. These huts are designed to provide comfortable living space in the face of harsh and changing weather, which includes good ventilation. This typical Cameroonian habitat is considered an excellent alternative to cement and is an important part of the country's cultural heritage.

The Mousgoum is an ethnic group of Central and Western Africa. They live on the plains of northern Cameroon (around 61,500 people) and southwestern Chad (around 24,400 people), east of Nigeria and west of Niger. This ethnic group is best known for the atypical architectural style of their villages. Since the beginning of the 20th century, these shell-shaped houses, which generally take about six months to build, have attracted the interest of curious Western architects.

Ancestral techniques

The materials used for the construction of the Mousgoum huts are totally natural, reusable and biodegradable. Indeed, these houses are built with a mixture of clay soil (60 percent), vegetable fibers (grass, straw, seaweed, etc., 35 percent) and organic matter (animal excrement, fish oil, etc.; 5 percent), which ensures cohesion and impermeability. This mixture can easily be produced locally and is environmentally friendly. Inside the eight-meter-high huts, the temperature regulates itself according to the ambient temperature thanks to the thermal advantages of these building materials. At the top, a small opening has been provided for lighting and air circulation. Famously called the "smoke hole," it is covered by a slab that prevents rainwater from entering the house. The entrance is fitted with a single door that is narrow at the bottom but wider at the shoulder height, a bit like a keyhole. In total, the composition of a Mousgoum family dwelling traditionally includes five huts: one for the head of the family, two for the women, one for kitchen and one for livestock. In the center is usually a millet granary. The five huts are connected by a clay wall and are only accessible through a door that is locked at night.

The Mousgoum people still have deeply rooted habits and customs. The head of the family, for example, resides alone in his own hut, which is often distinguished by its large size. Each of his wives has her own house, where she lives with her unmarried children. The adult sons who are still single live together in a separate hut. Mousgoum tradition dictates that upon death, the head of a family is always buried in his house. Afterward, the dome of the upper level of his house is destroyed so that no one can use it.

Heritage preservation

The remarkable identity of the Mousgoum people, zealously preserving their culture, is mainly characterized by their houses. These are symbols of pride for this hard-working group because the architecture remains unique in its kind in the whole world. As a result, every effort is made to preserve this architectural model, which is reproduced in several places in the northern part of Cameroon so that a trace is kept for future generations. Joseph Ngabanai, a resident in the far north of the country, takes pride in advancing the technical know-how of his ancestors: "This heritage is passed on to us by our forefathers. However, the transmission of technical knowledge of these traditional structures to the younger generation is not systematic. The knowledge of this structural model is passed on from father to son for the moment. In addition, the simplicity of these constructions is really amazing because they have neither reinforcement nor foundation in their elaboration but curiously can withstand bad weather."

Marcel Biri, a student at the University of Maroua and also a member of the Mousgoum group, suggests these construction techniques be taught at a professional level. "We would like the public authorities to become more involved by creating, for example, a training school to better transmit and extend the mastery of this architectural know-how to other localities in the country," he said.

Ajaccio Atapassing Avele, one of the guardians of the tradition of the Mousgoum people, talked about another role this type of dwelling can play: "These shell-shaped huts are not only habitable but can also be used strategically in times of conflict by serving as a control tower. Their opening at the top allows keeping watch and observing from afar the movements of an enemy who has the intent to attack the community."

The continuation of this architectural model is assured, according to Geremi Paltamatala, a merchant based in Yaoundé, and also the great-grandson of one of the great designers of the huts. "I think there is no reason to be alarmed about the durability of the huts, which originated in our region. I must specify here that the Mousgoum architecture seems to be divine: When we observe the techniques used by our ancestors, we realize that it is really impressive given that they never did any studies. What is really exceptional is also the fact that they did not use any traditional construction material such as concrete, iron or cement. We can only congratulate our ancestors for these technical feats, namely the fact of managing to erect these huts whose heights vary between five and eight meters on average and the fact that they managed to resist all storms. For me, the performance is admirable," he said.

This architecture, whose construction techniques were well and truly in the process of disappearing, has been the target of a great preservation drive. All this was done due to the curiosity of the tourists above all, which aroused a particular craze among the young Mousgoum. This new generation is now more interested in the construction of these traditional houses and promoting the continuation of the architectural genius whose secret is well kept by the Mousgoum populations.

Reporting from Cameroon

(Print Edition Title: An Architectural Treasure)

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