Africa isn't just a place to visit;
it's a continent you experience through your eyes, your mind, and the very
ground you stand on. While the food, festivals, and culture are legendary,
we're diving into the solid foundation of Africa's tourism appeal: its
incredible architecture. More than just buildings, these structures tell
historic narratives, drive a massive economic value, and embody cultural
identity.
Tourism has been one of the solid
pillars of thriving African countries. It has projected nations such as South
Africa Ghana, Egypt, Morrocco, Nigeria and Senegal, through history, food,
culture, dance, festivals etc. According to Wikipedia, African countries have
been investing largely in tourism since the late 1960s and 1970 and currently
are at different levels of tourism development. I think tourism through
architecture has projected Africa, making it a continent of fascinating tourist
sites. There are quite a number of architectural pieces that attract may people
especially Westerners to Africa to learn, embrace and celebrate her culture,
art and architecture.
Historic
Narratives:
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| Cape Coast Castle |
Architectural monuments such as the Cape Coast Castle, Elmina Castle,
Christianborg Castle in Ghana tell of the impeccable history of the colonial
evolution of the nation from the land of gold to this prominent nation. One main
reason for foreigners traveling to this country is to trace their roots and to
enquire of what happened to their ancestors since they reside in the land that
their ancestors were transported to as slaves. These castles were fortress that
were created by the Europeans (Portuguese built the Elmina Castle and the Danes
built the Cape Coast Castle), which later became seats of authority for the
British Governors such as Captain George Maclean, Commander Hill and many
others. These buildings have stood test of time under careful maintenance and
preservation. There are also some slave routes which have been preserved and conversed
for the future generation of the nation. An example is the Assin Manso Slave
River Site, which was the one of the stop points for slaves who were on their
way to the castles to be later transported to the Americas as manual labour.  |
| Christianborg Castle |
Another architectural
monument is the Three Great Pyramids of Giza, which is located in Egypt. These
monuments speak greatly of Egypt’s evolution with respect to its leadership and
governance. These enormous structures were constructed centuries ago when
concrete had not even made a name for itself. Three great pyramids designed by
an Egyptian architect called Imhotep, for the three pharaohs namely, Khufu,
Khafre and Menkaure.  |
| The Three Great Pyramids of Giza |
These pyramids hold relics of ancient history
which has been preserved by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. This monument
speaks volumes of history and architecture. Many people visit the pyramids to
learn about the history of the Egyptian pharaohs as well as their culture of
ancient Egypt through their hieroglyphics (ancient writings). Also, many draw
near these architectural pieces to marvel at the precise construction of these
pyramids without advanced technology.
Economic Value:
Tourism
is not only an economic pillar of every economy but it is also a drive to
restoration and conversation, Tourism brings in a lot for the economies of many
African countries. According to the World Tourism Council, tourism contribute
up to $169 billion to Africa’s GDP which accounts for 8% of her total economic
outputs in the year 2021. In countries like South Africa, Egypt, Morrocco,
tourism is one of the largest foreign exchange earning sectors. For Tanzania,
tourism is the largest foreign exchange earning sector. This is achieved
through intra-African tourism of which countries such as Ghana, Kenya, South
Africa etc. are beneficiaries. According to Wikipedia, in 2024, Egypt had 15
million arrivals, Morrocco had 17.5 million arrivals, South Africa had 7.5
million arrivals, Mauritius had over 930,000 arrivals, Algeria had 4 million
arrivals and Tunisia had 6.4 million arrivals. And most of these arrivals is
influenced by the luxury tourist attractions (hotels, resorts and lodges) in
Africa. More foreign exchange is derived from expenditure on hotels, artefacts,
local food, entertainment and tickets to game reserves and historical
monuments. In Ghana, tourism is an invisible export which is not volatile as
compared to mineral resources. Some of the hotels and resorts visited all
around Africa include:
- The
Oberoi Marrakech, Morrocco
- Angama
Mara, Kenya
 |
| Angama Mara Lodge, Kenya |
- Mount
Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
 |
| Mount Nelson Hotel |
- Constance
Lemuria Praslin, Seychelles
- Lux
Grand Gaube, Maritius
 |
| Lux Grand Gaube, Mauritius |
Cultural Identity:
Africa is known for
oneness through its arts, culture, dance and even its system of governance but
what of its architecture. One of the key aspects that architecture portrays is
the identity of a people or nation. But looking at the architecture of many
African countries, one thing runs through which VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE. This
style of architecture is common in the lives of ancient building in Africa
which have been preserved in these countries. An example is the Ndebele traditional
houses which ae located in South Africa. These dwellings are visited by
foreigners who have the desire to learn, understand and embrace the African
culture through its arts and architecture. How arts and patterns are used as
the façade on the buildings isn’t something done only in the ancient
traditional buildings in South Africa but in Ghana, Mali and the likes. |
| Ndebele Traditional Buildings, South Africa |
Another way architecture portrays Africa’s
identity is its construction and materials. Have you ever wondered why ancient
African buildings have stood the test of time?
This is a question many foreigners ask when they see traditional
buildings in Africa. Some marvel at the construction of theses structures such
as mud houses. The image below is the Great Mosque of Djenne which is located
in Mali. This Heritage monument has been in existence for decades if not
centuries, and the structure of the building is still intact. The Great Mosque
is built with mud bricks and covered with plaster. Bundles of sticks are used
to decorate the façade protruding about 20 inches from the walls. Also, the
people of Djenné have resisted the urge to modernize the building but they
chose to preserve the existing state of the structure which in return has drawn
a lot of tourists as well as preservationists and conversationists. Some
materials used in the construction of these buildings include: - Mud
- Laterite
- Bamboo
- Wood struts
- Thatch
 |
| The Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali |
To sum it all up, architecture, for many years,
has transformed the Africa’s tourism industry through its masterpieces, some
ancient, other modern ones. Some of its contributions include historic
narratives, high economic value to Africa and cultural identity of African
countries. But this should inform us that tourism goes beyond the culture,
food, dance and even artworks, and that architecture in its own ways, has
always made a lasting impact in her life and economy
