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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Culture / Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics (19234 Views)
The Architecture Of Pre-colonial Africa - Photos / Islamic Slave Trade In Africa (pics) / Homosexuality In Pre-colonial Africa (2) (3) (4)
Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Rossikk(m): 11:49pm On Mar 20, 2015 |
Great Zimbabwe Ruins - 1100 AD Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city in the southeastern hills of Zimbabwe near Lake Mutirikwe and the town of Masvingo. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the country's Late Iron Age. Construction on the monument by ancestors of the Shona people began in the 11th century and continued until the 15th century,[1][2] spanning an area of 722 hectares (1,780 acres) which, at its peak, could have housed up to 18,000 people. It is recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Great Zimbabwe served as a royal palace for the Zimbabwean monarch and would have been used as the seat of political power. One of its most prominent features were the walls, some of which were over five metres high and which were constructed without mortar. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani (Tanzania) 800 AD Kilwa Kisiwani is an archaeological city-state site located along the Swahili Coast on the Kilwa archipelago. It was occupied from at least the 8th century AD and became one of the most powerful settlements along the coast. Kilwa Kisiwani reached its highest point in wealth and commerce between 13th and 15th centuries AD ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Replica of a Chief's House in Ancient Benin Nigeria ![]() The Walls of Benin, Nigeria: 800 AD Man-made wonders of the world such as the Taj Mahal in India, the Cairo Citadel in Egypt and the Colosseum in Rome attract millions of visitors each year and lay claim to represent the architectural brilliance of our past. But the Benin Moat, also known as the Walls of Benin, lays fallow, crumbling away in Nigeria, a pale imitation of its resplendent former self. At stake is not just the structure itself, but the memory of a once-great empire and a site of colonial resistance. A benign development? The Benin Empire (1440–1897) was a pre-colonial African state, which at its height stretched from the western Igbo tribes on the shores of the Niger River, through parts of the south-west including present day Ondo State, and the isolated islands of Lagos. The empire was famed for nurturing of artistic creativity and using advanced techniques in its bronze and ivory sculptures (especially its life-sized bronze heads) that predate similar works in the Western world. Construction started on the Walls of Benin in 800 AD, now situated in modern day Benin City, capital of Edo State, and continued into the mid-1400s. Stretching seemingly endlessly across the land, the Benin Moat is the world’s second longest man-made construction, falling short of only the Great Wall of China. The Walls of Benin, built as a city fortification against neighbouring rivals such as the Oyo Kingdom to the south and the Sokoto Caliphate in the north, is estimated to be 10,000 miles in length and 2,000 square miles in area. Excavations by British archaeologist Graham Connah in 1960 uncovered a rural network of earthen walls that, he estimated, if spread out over five dry seasons, would have required a workforce of 1,000 labourers working ten hours a day, for seven days a week to construct – a rough total of 150 million man hours. Kano City Walls Nigeria 1100 AD ![]() ![]() ![]() Ancient Kano Houses ![]() ![]() Loropeni Ruins Burkina Faso ![]() ![]() The 11,130m2 property, the first to be inscribed in the country, with its imposing stone walls is the best preserved of ten fortresses in the Lobi area and is part of a larger group of 100 stone enclosures that bear testimony to the power of the trans-Saharan gold trade. Situated near the borders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, the ruins have recently been shown to be at least 1,000 years old. The settlement was occupied by the Lohron or Koulango peoples, who controlled the extraction and transformation of gold in the region when it reached its apogee from the 14th to the 17th century. Much mystery surrounds this site large parts of which have yet to be excavated. The settlement seems to have been abandoned during some periods during its long history. The property which was finally deserted in the early 19th century is expected to yield much more information. Brief Synthesis The dramatic and memorable Ruins of Loropéni consist of imposing, tall, laterite stone perimeter walls, up to six metres in height, surrounding a large abandoned settlement. As the best preserved of ten similar fortresses in the Lobi area, part of a larger group of around a hundred stone-built enclosures, they are part of a network of settlements that flourished at the same time as the trans-Saharan gold trade and appear to reflect the power and influence of that trade and its links with the Atlantic coast. Recent excavations have provided radio-carbon dates suggesting the walled enclosure at Loropéni dates back at least to the 11th century AD and flourished between the 14th and 17th centuries, thus establishing it as an important part of a network of settlements. Ancient Ghana Empire Ruins (Kumbi Saleh) 900 AD ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Old Oyo Kingdom Ruins, Nigeria 1100 AD ![]() Onitsha Nigeria These houses are from titled men of Onicha and may have Benin influence. ![]() ![]() ![]() Upstairs balcony. Temple of Soleb, Sudan 1400 BC ![]() Ruins of Meroe, and Nubian Pyramids Sudan 1200 BC ![]() ![]() [img]http://orientenresor.se/da/files/2011/12/Nuri-F-31-700x350.jpg[/img] ![]() [img]http://www.peron4.pl/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/sudan_swiatynia.jpg[/img] Timbuktu, Mali Empire 1100 AD [img]http://quintessentialruminations.files./2012/04/timbuktu2.jpg[/img] [img]http://1.bp..com/-RVdWwPdA8BI/T4iCkbFViCI/AAAAAAAAAFI/GNZczkXUTVo/s1600/b087.jpg[/img] [img]http://3.bp..com/_kxPG6y8Qctk/TFbgsbe1OVI/AAAAAAAAexA/hqGathBBqSs/s800/Sankore+Mosque+-+TIMBUKTU+Photos+%289%29.jpg[/img] [img]http://1.bp..com/_kxPG6y8Qctk/TFbgiZC_4tI/AAAAAAAAewY/dw3fQ0ZiF_c/s800/Sankore+Mosque+-+TIMBUKTU+Photos+%284%29.jpg[/img] [img]http://ader.eu/francais/mali/mali3-maison_quartier_bamak.jpg[/img] Gedi Kenya 1200 AD ![]() Ancient Temple Burkina Faso ![]() ![]() Ruins of Ethiopia (Dated: PRE-HISTORY) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lalibela Church Ethiopia - Entirely carved from one rock ![]() Obelisk of Axum Ethiopia ![]() Songhai Empire 1400 [img]http://everythingspossible.files./2008/06/p5010061.jpg[/img] [img]http://everythingspossible.files./2008/06/p5010031.jpg[/img] Ashanti Empire ![]() Palace of the chief of Foumban Cameroun ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ancient Benin - British soldiers sitting inside the Oba's palace after burning and looting the complex (1897) ![]() "Ivory Found in City." Courtyard of the Oba's palace, Benin City, February 1897, photographed by a Captain Walker. The object in the center of the courtyard, lying on a large brass cylinder, is a brass serpent head from the palace roof. R. K. Granville Archive Album 64.5, Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. ![]() A house in Benin city occupied by the British soldiers as a temporary residence. ![]() ![]() "The king's wall in Benin City. Benin, Nigeria. Silver gelatin print, 10.2cm x 13.9cm (4" x 5.5"Click the image to open in full size.. Photograph by J. H. Swainson, 1892. Macdonald Niger Coast Protectorate Album, A1996-190138." The Great Sphinx Egypt (Dated PRE-HISTORY) [img]http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/infopays/photos/EGY/orig/Sphinx.jpg[/img] [img]http://bolstablog.files./2010/03/sphinx-riddle.jpg[/img] Pyramids of Giza Egypt ![]() |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by bigfrancis21: 6:44am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Nice one Rossik! Can we get to see more pictures on the Benin Empire before and after it was burned and looted? 1 Like |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Nobody: 6:48am On Mar 21, 2015 |
bigfrancis21:Pls unhide the post and unban the poster. |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by condralbede(m): 7:25am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Amazing architectural infrastructures.....Wonderfully made. 1 Like |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by NetBizguy: 7:26am On Mar 21, 2015 |
n |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Nobody: 7:27am On Mar 21, 2015 |
How about egypt? |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by clefstone(m): 7:27am On Mar 21, 2015 |
We must begin to define ourselves as Africans. Enough of westernization |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Archmage(m): 7:27am On Mar 21, 2015 |
they feared what Africa would become if we were left to develop on our own. Africa has a glorious past.... kudos to our forbearers. 5 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by ardeks(m): 7:27am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Amazing |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Nobody: 7:28am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Europeans are wicked! |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by kobonaire(m): 7:29am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Archmage:very true , but a pretty shïtty present .... no thanks to our current African leaders. Can we stop blaming others for our problems and take ownership? vfactor:More wicked are Africans to each other ... 2 Likes |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by lampardizik(m): 7:31am On Mar 21, 2015 |
This is wonderful... |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by angrybird007: 7:31am On Mar 21, 2015 |
O |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by niceguy7(m): 7:32am On Mar 21, 2015 |
....Hmmmmm! |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Capitano1(m): 7:32am On Mar 21, 2015 |
[size=18pt]SWEAT TOO MUCH ![]() Visit us[/size] |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Nobody: 7:32am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Civilization started in Africa. Dark continent my foot. 5 Likes |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by oladapoa1(m): 7:33am On Mar 21, 2015 |
awesome 1 Like |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Tintinnoty(m): 7:36am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Amazingly wonderful 1 Like |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by stnwani(m): 7:36am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Why will that of Onitsha have Benin influence? |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by watered(m): 7:37am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Nice architectural works. Europeans are wicked and Africans are foolish. |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by bigfrancis21: 7:37am On Mar 21, 2015 |
lomomike: Do you need XXL spectacles to see that it has already been done and the page moved to the front page? ![]() |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by watered(m): 7:40am On Mar 21, 2015 |
kennygee:Of course civilization started in Africa, Egypt precisely but the Europeans don't want to hear that and that's why they make Africans and African discoveries look like watered versions of the reality. 1 Like |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by Adflex1(m): 7:40am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Glorious Past# Nobi today this oyibo people begin Loot us, Na our Resources and manpower them take establish to the modern day beautiful cities# I Believe in the Dark Continent, the Soil of our ancestors. |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by kuuljay(m): 7:44am On Mar 21, 2015 |
this onitsha people and upstairs mata no be today e start.but wait oo if onitsha had an upstairs in precolonial days then how come they told us the first up stairs was one christian missionary building in badagry. 2 Likes |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by asala1: 7:50am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Wow |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by nairaman66(m): 7:56am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Africa, my Africa.. Any one remembered that poem? 1 Like |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by 1miccza: 7:57am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Wow absolutely amazing so wonderful,I love my continent Africa!!!!!!! 1 Like |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by nairaman66(m): 7:57am On Mar 21, 2015 |
kuuljay: Lagos was already a renowned port and vastly exposed before and after the annexation! Every other place comes secondary.. |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by blessedvisky(m): 8:01am On Mar 21, 2015 |
cool |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by fr3do(m): 8:10am On Mar 21, 2015 |
What about Igbo Ukwu? |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by blackjack21(m): 8:15am On Mar 21, 2015 |
PROUDLY AFRICAN Death to the brit. ![]() 08:15:06 Sat, Mar 21, 2015 |
Re: Architectural Wonders From Pre-colonial Africa - Pics by hatux: 8:27am On Mar 21, 2015 |
Wow ![]() |
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