Winfried Bullinger

The area between Kaele, Yagoua and Cameroon’s southern border with Chad is characterised by flat savannah from which rocky mountain formations of volcanic origin rise. The Guiziga and Moussey peoples live in this area. They often build their farmsteads using bricks: round huts and rectangular dwellings can be found, interspersed with food storehouses made of clay. The traditional building forms blend with construction techniques and designs that were introduced during the colonial era and have remained in use. The use of bricks in their architecture is varied, and there are architectural elements that innovatively develop brick construction and adapt it to the local context. For instance, bricks laid crosswise form triangles in the walls, which serve to ventilate the buildings. At the same time, they appear as references to the architecture of colonial buildings. Arrangements of dilapidated and intact building sections convey the impression of upheaval within the settlements.