The African Dwelling: From Traditional to Western Style Homes by Epée Ellong, Diane Chehab

The African Dwelling: From Traditional to Western Style Homes by Epée Ellong, Diane Chehab, Jack Travis (foreword)

Housing has changed in Sub-Saharan Africa since the Europeans arrived. Africans no longer live in traditional homes. This historical transition from "hut to house," from traditional to Western style, reflects slavery, colonialism and other social influences.

This book focuses on Cameroon, known as "Africa in Miniature" because of its geographical and cultural representation of the continent at large. Architectural styles, materials and construction techniques are discussed within a larger context, examining how lifestyle changes and architectural trends influence each other. This work is a rich examination of the challenges and opportunities for a new generation of African architects to integrate the lessons of the past and create a future more responsive to the region's needs.

Epée Ellong teaches African Architecture at the Ecole Supérieure Spéciale d'Architecture du Cameroun in Yaounde, Cameroon. In 1988, he was published in Présence Africaine on the use of urban space in African funeral ceremonies. While working in the U.S. as an architect, he spoke regularly at universities and at the Museum for African Art.

 Diane Chehab is an American project manager and former architectural designer. She lived in Cameroon from 1981 to 1993, and between 2015 and 2016. She writes about Africa on her blog, Away From Africa.