Traditional Bamileke Architecture in Western Cameroon: The Building as an Expression of Intention

Abstract

By observing the traditional architecture of the Grassfields in general, and that of the Bamileke people in particular, one can make a clear observation: building spaces were not conceived haphazardly. Most of them possess a strong utilitarian, symbolic, or functional value. The typical traditional houses of this group of people are of various types, composed of prefabricated walls assembled on site. Their shape consists of a square or rectangular base surmounted by a high conical roof, and their architecture is characterized by expertise in assembly through binding, braiding, and carving. This study first presents the traditional architecture of the Bamileke people from a morphological perspective, then analyzes its symbolic value, and finally examines the function or utility of the building within the local culture. These various approaches have led to the conclusion that the traditional architecture of the Bamileke people corresponds to a system of thought, a philosophy, and a precise ideology based on social equilibrium. The conical roofs that characterize it symbolize the sociology of this people, marked by the presence of a leader at the top and the population at the bottom. Each member of the community is at the same level as the other members of the group.