Painted Mud Huts of Tiébélé (Tiébélé/ Burkina Faso)

These beautifully decorated mud huts are the work of the Kassena people, an old ethnic group in the West African country of Burkina Faso, which is very poor in terms of money but but rich in culture.
Just before the rainy season the village women decorate the walls with images of everyday life, symbols of religious inspiration or just pretty patterns. The layers of paint and natural home-made varnish serve as a protection from the oncoming rain and help the structures last longer.






















Thanks to reader Colleen! :)

All photos by Rita Willaert. See more in her album on flickr.