By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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The Royal Court of Tiébélé, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Burkina Faso, is facing a severe threat. Its iconic painted houses, known for their distinctive wavy walls and geometric designs, are disintegrating. Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns are largely to blame for this alarming decline (The Guardian).

Residents of Tiébélé report a significant shift in rainfall patterns. Rain now occurs during periods that were traditionally dry, making the restoration of the delicate wall paintings incredibly difficult. These intricate designs require completely dry surfaces for proper application and preservation (The Guardian). Furthermore, the increased intensity and unpredictability of rainfall, coupled with strong winds, are damaging the structures themselves, including the traditional straw roofs. Chemical products have also weakened the soil used for construction, leading to houses that simply do not last as long as they once did (The Guardian).

There is a growing trend towards using modern building materials like concrete and metal roofs in Burkina Faso. This shift is driven by the perceived stability and easy availability of these materials from local factories (South China Morning Post). However, this comes at a significant environmental cost. The production of cement, a key ingredient in concrete, is highly energy-intensive and contributes approximately 8% of global carbon emissions (South China Morning Post).

In stark contrast, traditional mud construction offers numerous environmental benefits and cultural significance. Mud is a natural building material that provides excellent cooling properties, allowing homes to remain comfortable even in extreme heat without the need for energy-consuming air conditioning (National Geographic). Air conditioning is a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Architects such as Francis Kéré champion the use of locally sourced materials like mud and rammed earth. These materials are sustainable and effectively regulate indoor temperatures in hot climates (Rpublc.com, dcbel.energy).

The Royal Court of Tiébélé was added to UNESCO's Tentative List for World Heritage sites on January 24, 2012, signifying its potential for future inscription. This process involves a detailed nomination and evaluation, which can be lengthy.

Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Burkina Faso is disproportionately affected by climate change. Sahel countries, including Burkina Faso, account for only 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, they are among the most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change (The Guardian). Temperatures in Burkina Faso have risen 1.5 times faster than the global average (The Guardian).

The majority of Burkina Faso's population, approximately 80%, relies on agriculture and land-based work. This makes them highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change on weather patterns and natural resources (The Guardian). The changing climate threatens not only their livelihoods but also their cultural heritage, as seen with the Tiébélé houses.

The traditional knowledge and skills essential for building and painting the Tiébélé houses are at risk. This is due to changing environmental conditions and a decline in traditional practices. The women of the Kassena culture are the custodians of this artistic heritage. They paint the houses using natural pigments derived from local materials such as laterite stone, clay, basalt, and cow dung (The Guardian).

To fix these markings to the walls, they use a varnish made from the fruit of the néré tree. Octogenarian Kaye Tintama, recognized as a "living human treasure" by UNESCO, embodies this vital knowledge. She holds the intricate details of these decoration techniques and their cultural meanings (The Guardian). Her role highlights the critical importance of intergenerational transfer to preserve this unique heritage. However, the availability of traditional building materials, including specific trees for construction and straw for roofs, is decreasing. This further threatens the continuation of these invaluable practices (The Guardian).

The challenges facing the Tiébélé World Heritage site are further exacerbated by a significant decline in tourism. Jihadist violence and political instability have plagued Burkina Faso since 2015, deterring visitors (The Guardian). Specific routes to Tiébélé, such as the Nazinon bridge, have been attacked. This necessitates heavy military control and slow travel speeds, further discouraging visitors (The Guardian).

Militant Islamist violence in the Sahel region has escalated dramatically since 2015. This violence is often linked to the control of natural resources, such as gold deposits, which serve as a major source of revenue for these groups (Africa Center). The increase in violent incidents has made travel beyond capital cities risky, impacting the ability of foreign visitors to access cultural sites. This, in turn, affects tourism-dependent livelihoods and conservation funding (New Lines Magazine, UNDP).

The architectural styles of the Tiébélé houses are deeply intertwined with Kassena culture and social structure. The Royal Court features quadrangular (Mangolo), circular (Draa), and figure-of-eight (Dinian) huts, each serving distinct social functions. For example, round houses are typically for unmarried men, while those shaped like a figure of eight are for older women and unmarried daughters. Rectangular houses are reserved for young couples (The Guardian).

The houses also incorporate practical and symbolic elements. Many feature small entrance doors, designed to prevent animals from entering and to compel visitors to kneel. This position of vulnerability allows inhabitants to neutralize a possible intruder (The Guardian). The rooftops are ingeniously designed to dry cereals after harvest. Additionally, the walls often feature reliefs of snakes, symbolizing the spirits of grandmothers or the cultural guardian spirit of the Kassena people. This spirit appears once a year, requiring the population to remain silent and avoid music as it passes (The Guardian).

The vibrant and unique painted lines on the Tiébélé houses are created using natural pigments. These pigments are extracted from materials native to the region. Laterite stone, clay, basalt, and even cow dung are all utilized to create the rich palette seen on the walls (The Guardian). The process of making and applying these pigments is a testament to the Kassena women's deep understanding of their environment and their artistic traditions.

To ensure the durability of these intricate markings, the women boil the fruit of the néré tree, also known as the "flour tree." This creates a natural varnish that seals the paint, protecting it from the elements (The Guardian). However, the increasing unpredictability of rainfall poses a significant threat to this delicate process. The paintings require completely dry surfaces for application, and unexpected rains can ruin ongoing restoration efforts (The Guardian).

While specific conservation efforts for the painted houses of Tiébélé are not extensively detailed, the broader context of tourism management in World Heritage sites in African countries like Mali and Ethiopia offers insights. These examples suggest that local populations play a key role in benefiting from cultural tourism through the deployment of cultural capital (ScienceDirect). This implies that community involvement and the preservation of traditional knowledge are crucial for the sustainability of such sites.

In Ethiopia, there is a recognized need to improve the competitiveness of its destinations to increase tourism's contribution to the local economy, including income and employment opportunities (ScienceDirect). Similarly, in Tiébélé, supporting the local community, especially the women painters and builders, is paramount for the continued existence of this unique heritage. However, the impact of security challenges on these efforts remains a significant concern, making it difficult to implement and sustain conservation initiatives.

The challenges facing the Tiébélé Royal Court are multifaceted, encompassing climate change, the shift away from traditional building practices, and regional instability. The loss of traditional knowledge and the decreasing availability of natural building materials further complicate preservation efforts. The move towards modern materials like concrete, while perceived as stable, contributes to global carbon emissions and undermines the sustainable, cooling properties of traditional mud construction (South China Morning Post).

Despite these immense challenges, the cultural significance of Tiébélé's painted houses remains profound. They represent the thoughts, culture, and religion of the Kassena people, literally written on the walls (The Guardian). Preserving this heritage requires a concerted effort to address climate change impacts, promote sustainable building practices, and ensure the safety and economic well-being of the local community. The future of Tiébélé's painted houses depends on a global commitment to supporting local efforts and valuing traditional wisdom in the face of modern threats.

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.